Joshua Zirkzee looks frustrated during a Manchester United game this season (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Manchester United summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has been heavily criticized by journalist Samuel Luckhurst after a “dismal” start to life at Old Trafford.
Luckhurst has even suggested in a piece for the Manchester Evening News that Zirkzee could already be someone the Red Devils would consider sellingalthough he has only been at the club for a few months.
Zirkzee looked like a hugely impressive talent in Bologna, but maybe it’s starting to look like he was either a bit of a flash in the pan, or that a big move like this possibly came to him a little too quickly.
The 23-year-old Dutchman has had plenty of chances for United so far this season, but he has one goal in 15 games in totaland Luckhurst is clearly far from impressed.
The MEN writer often has a keen insight into what goes on behind the scenes at United, and he already seems to think Zirkzee’s days could be numbered as the club prepares for the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim.
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United also have Rasmus Hojlund up front and Luckhurst hopes he ends up being Zirkzee’s first-choice striker.
“The Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules have encouraged longer contracts through the practice of amortization, as a player’s fee is spread over the course of his contract. So Joshua Zirkzee, a 36-year-old buy, £5m, is costing United a paltry £7.3m a year in their accounts,” Luckhurst wrote.
“Just Zirkzee doesn’t look like a football playernever mind a striker. There were more gasps of disbelief from the stands during his tame cameo against Chelsea. Now it’s one goal in 15 games.”
He added: “It is not too early to conclude that United must cut their losses against Zirkzee next year. Amorim’s 3-4-3 requires a proven goalscorer. This is not Hojlund or Zirkzee, so a of them must make way Zirkzee is the inferior leader and the most economical investment.
