Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for Joshua Zirkzee, amid growing interest from Italian clubs, but offers will have to meet the £40 million price tag set.
Since signing in 2024 under Erik ten Hag, striker Joshua Zirkzee has failed to make a meaningful impact at Manchester United.
The Dutchman arrived with a £35 million fee and the expectation of challenging the underperforming Rasmus Højlund for his place in the starting eleven.
But frequent injuries and a lack of quality in his sparse cameos have led INEOS to explore the potential sale of Zirkzee this summer.
INEOS has decided to listen to offers for the striker, but any advances must meet the price tag United has set.
£40 million needed for Zirkzee sale
Caughtoffside have reported that United have set Zirkzee's price tag at £40 million, hoping to recoup a small profit on the £35 million fee they paid two summers ago.
With 75 appearances for the Reds and only nine goals, a £40 million price tag may seem a bit steep for the Dutchman.
That said, the market has suffered a shakeup due to the fees clubs are paying for players this summer, for example, Elliott Anderson to Manchester City for £116 million, and Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for £117 million; these fees are inflated from their real value.
After a busy summer transfer window, with money constantly circulating, the board hopes to cash in on the Dutchman while the market is hot.
With interest from Juventus and Napoli, Zirkzee has plenty of suitors, but United have yet to receive an official bid.
After news that Ollie Watkins is reportedly on the move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, Aston Villa have discussed signing Zirkzee.
Zirkzee's departure would leave United with only Benjamin Šeško as the club's recognised striker, though Bryan Mbeumo has adapted to playing through the centre; therefore, a new backup striker would be needed given the increased number of games this season.
New striker needed
After the Reds succumbed to a 2-0 loss in the opening game to newly promoted Hull, it's clear United needs a more diverse attacking option.
The trio of Mbeumo, Šeško, and Matheus Cunha all reached over ten goals and assists last season despite playing significantly fewer games, but none of the three thrives on breaking down low-block defences, as we saw against Hull.
The reintegration of Marcus Rashford means United are covered on the left side of attack, but Cunha, Rashford, and Patrick Dorgu are all fighting for one position, meaning one of the three may shift to the central striker position.
Cunha started the Hull game as the Reds' number nine, but having featured there before, Rashford may be more suited to playing as the striker
Fans will still want to see a new attacking outlet join the club before the summer transfer window closes in early September. With Julian Alvarez's future uncertain and strikers like Jean-Philippe Mateta and Victor Osimhen still on the market, Zirkzee's departure may free up funds to pursue one of them.
