Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in evaluating his new squad, with one player labelled ‘not adequate’.
Joshua Zirkzee hit the ground running to score just minutes into his Manchester United debut earlier this season but the Dutchman has failed to find the net since.
The summer signing has added just two assists to his contributions in front of goal as United have laboured to 13th in the Premier League. The 23-year-old striker is said to have already been a topic of discussion for the United hierarchy and Amorim, alongside Rasmus Hojlund.
The duo were discussed in negotiations with the Red Devils’ new boss with hope the 39-year-old can have influence a surge in form, as he did with Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres.
However, reports from Zirkzee’s former home in Italy already suggest that Amorim has decided Zirkzee is ‘not adequate’, and would like to bring Gyokeres to Old Trafford. That could see Zirkzee depart on loan as soon as January.
(Image: Carlos Rodrigues)
The Netherlands international had already been linked with a temporary move to Juventus ahead of Amorim’s appointment.
The former Portugal star’s arrival appears to have handed the Turin-based side renewed vigour. Reports in Italy suggest an attempt to land Zirkzee has already started for Juventus, reports the Mirror. The player’s salary is deemed not to be far out of range, while United hope to see their investment retain value.
Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright has expressed doubts about Zirkzee’s ability to lead Manchester United to success, stating: “Do you know something? When I look at the strikers at Manchester United, I look at [Rasmus] Hojlund and Zirkzee.
“Going forward, as a United player to take the club to the level they need to be – top-four, Champions League, title challengers – I can’t see in any formation Zirkzee making it from what I’ve seen so far.
“I can see it with Hojlund, he looks like a future player with better players around him. He gives me the impression that if he gets in and around the box and he gets chances, he can go hot.
“I don’t see the same with Zirkzee. I look at him and his movement, I don’t see anything in his game that makes me think, ‘Okay, there he is, I see what he can do’.”