Man Utd forward Zirkzee could leave in January amid limited game time

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee appears likely to leave the club when the January transfer window opens after falling well down the pecking order under manager Ruben Amorim. The 24 year old has made four appearances this season but has played only about 80 to 90 minutes in total, been omitted from several matchday squads and is yet to start a Premier League game, prompting growing interest from clubs in both England and Italy.

Zirkzee’s reduced role has coincided with United’s summer signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and Amorim has frequently used Sesko as his first-choice central striker while deploying other attacking options such as Mason Mount in wider or advanced roles. That has left Zirkzee largely on the bench and fuelled suggestions he will seek regular minutes elsewhere, particularly with next year’s World Cup approaching.

Several Serie A clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan and Como, have been linked with interest in the Netherlands international, while Premier League sides such as Everton and West Ham have also been reported to be monitoring his situation. Observers note Zirkzee’s prior form in Italy, where he scored regularly for...