Joshua Zirkzee faces a very real crossroads at Manchester United. He’s not getting much playing time this season. People are talking a lot about him leaving, but no one official from the club has said anything. Still, his limited starts—just six in the Premier League, with only one goal—fuel the rumors.
He seems frustrated, too. Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes are ahead of him in manager Ruben Amorim‘s pecking order. This situation really kicks up the transfer chatter, especially about a move back to Serie A. Zirkzee did well there at Bologna, scoring 11 goals in 2023/24. And no, he isn’t injured right now, that’s not why he’s out of the squad.
Zirkzee’s Struggle Under Amorim
It’s not gone well for Zirkzee with Ruben Amorim. He played some games early in the 2025/26 season. But he’s been left out of the last few matchday squads. That includes the Europa League game against Lille on March 12, where United lost 1-0. You can see highlights of that match, but Sony Sports Network YouTube highlights don’t show Zirkzee involved.
Manager Amorim likes Hojlund’s work rate better, apparently. Sky Sports reported back on February 28 that Amorim said, “Zirkzee is out of the picture for now.” And it’s true, he’s barely played. The Athletic mentioned his bench role in the 4-2-3-1 formation. He’s only logged 312 league minutes, which is nothing, really.
No Tier 1 source, like Manchester United’s official website, confirms any transfer news. The club still lists him in the squad as of March 13. BBC Sport did note “growing unrest” on March 11. They talked about his agent speaking with Italian clubs. But they called it “speculation amid poor form,” which it is. Blogs just copy the headlines without proof.
Fit and Ready, But Not Playing
People wonder about injuries. But Zirkzee is fine. United’s last injury report, from the Premier League’s official site on March 10, had no listings for him. So, his absence is about form, not medical issues. ESPN backed this up on March 9.
He was in full training on March 8, too. Goal.com reported that. So he’s available for the next game against Arsenal on March 16. His lack of playing time doesn’t hurt the team much, honestly. Hojlund starts. Bruno Fernandes covers depth. No big tactical changes needed because of Zirkzee not playing.
He had a small hamstring tweak in November 2025. That was minor. He recovered in two weeks, Reuters said. So, no big injury history to worry about.
Serie A Calling: Napoli Leads the Race
Zirkzee’s time at Bologna was good. He scored 17 goals in 37 appearances there, according to Serie A stats. So, a return to Italy makes sense for him. Clubs there want him. His value is around €40-50 million, Sky Sports Italia estimated on March 12.
Napoli looks like the top contender. They need a striker to back up Victor Osimhen. Gazzetta dello Sport called Zirkzee their “top target” on March 13. Director Giuntoli seems to prioritize him. He’s a proven scorer in Serie A. And he fits their 4-3-3 tactics, The Athletic suggested.
AC Milan is also interested, but maybe less so. Coach Fonseca wants striker rotation after Christian Pulisic’s injury. Calciomercato.com floated a €45 million bid on March 11. Milan liked him in 2024/25, too, ESPN noted. And he’s young, good for their rebuild.
Juventus is monitoring things closely. A reunion with Thiago Motta, his old Bologna coach, could happen. Dusan Vlahovic might leave. Tuttosport reported this on March 10. Zirkzee’s link-up play, with 11 assists at Bologna, suits their possession style.
Fiorentina and Inter Milan are lower on the list. Fiorentina has budget problems. Inter already has Marcus Thuram. And Lautaro Martinez is staying. So, Zirkzee would just be a luxury depth option there, if even that.
Performance Dip and Transfer Hurdles
His stats this season aren’t great. One goal, zero assists in the Premier League. Two goals in cup games. It’s a big drop from his 0.58 goals per 90 minutes at Bologna. The Athletic thinks it’s a tactical mismatch. Amorim’s high press doesn’t suit Zirkzee’s hold-up style. Serie A offers familiarity and he could get his €4 million a year salary demand there.
It won’t be easy to sell him, though. United wants to get back the €42.5 million they paid for him. BBC confirmed that signing cost. No formal bids have come in yet, Transfermarkt rumors say. And he’s under contract until 2029. That’s a long deal.
Fabrizio Romano, a Tier 1 verified source on X, said Zirkzee wants Italy and Napoli are favorites. Rio Ferdinand, a pundit on a BT Sport podcast, thinks the bench role is hurting Zirkzee’s development. He suggested a loan could be an option. But Zirkzee’s camp wants a permanent move for minutes. They’re pushing for Serie A, Romano also mentioned on March 11.
What Happens Next for Zirkzee and United
A move would be good for Zirkzee’s career, he’s 25 now, probably in his prime. And United could use the money. They need funds for midfield targets, apparently. The January 2026 window passed with no moves. The summer of 2026 looks more likely. Reuters reported on March 12 that Amorim is open to sales for a €100 million rebuild.
But nothing’s confirmed from Tier 1 sources yet. This is all still rumor, mostly. Keep an eye on Napoli’s negotiations, that’s what everyone’s waiting for. It’s a classic transfer saga, you know?
