- Man Utd face Nottingham Forest
- Joshua Zirkzee could be playing for his future
- Today’s game gives him chance to silence critics
Manchester United‘s penultimate game of the season comes against Nottingham Forest today and it might be Joshua Zirkzee’s last chance to prove his worth. Michael Carrick’s Red Devils host the Tricky Trees at Old Trafford, looking to get back to winning ways.
The hosts will want to put last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland behind them. None more so than Zirkzee who failed to impress in Benjamin Sesko’s absence.
Carrick turned to Zirkzee to lead the line due to Sesko sitting out the game with a shin injury. The Slovenian will also miss the Forest clash, and that might mean another start for his teammate.
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Zirkzee’s last chance
Speculation is growing over Zirkzee’s future amid a dissapointing spell at Old Trafford. With just two goals and one assist in 22 league games this season, there is talk of him potentially exiting this summer.
United signed the 24-year-old from Bologna in the summer of 2024 for £36.5m. The final instalment of that deal will be paid at the end of the season.
Zirkzee might be playing for his future at this point because the club will want Carrick to have more firepower next season. A return to the UEFA Champions League means a busy fixture list, and the Reds will need a reliable frontman to rotate Sesko with.
The Dutchman hasn’t convinced and last week’s draw at the Stadium of Light highlighted plenty of problems. He was easily kept quiet by the Black Cats, registering just one shot before being brought off in the 65th minute.
If Carrick decides to continue with Zirkzee up top, it could give him the chance to silence his critics and potentially quiet the noise regarding a transfer. He clearly loves playing for the club, as explained by Fabrizio Romano:
“He loved being at Manchester United. He keeps believing that it’s one of the best places to be in the world. He would love to succeed at United. It’s difficult for him to break the relationship and leave because he really loves the club.”
Zirkzee has three years left on his contract with United ahead of the summer transfer window. He possesses a versatile profile but ultimately is viewed as a number nine.
Zirkzee on Roma radar
If Zirkzee doesn’t convince United that his future should lie at Old Trafford, he could return to Serie A. Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari reports that AS Roma continue to enquire about the former Bayern Munich attacker.
The Dutchman caught the eye during his time at Bologna in Italy, earning a move to the Theatre of Dreams. He fired I Rossoblù to Champions League qualification before joining the Reds.
Serie A is becoming a popular destination for United players. Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund both moved to Napoli in recent transfer windows.
