Ruben Amorim has suggested Joshua Zirkzee could leave Manchester United in the January transfer window.
Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact since his £34m move from Bologna in the summer. The Dutch forward has scored just four times in 27 appearances across all competitions.
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Following his first-half substitution against Newcastle last weekend, Zirkzee was booed by sections of the Old Trafford crowd as he went down the tunnel.
The 23-year-old’s difficult adaptation has led to speculation that he could depart, with clubs in Serie A keeping an eye on his situation. Speaking after the draw with Liverpool on Sunday, Amorim said he wants to keep the player but admitted an exit could materialise.
“I want to keep Josh because he gives everything,” Amorim said, as per Sky Sports.
“He’s trying in training but we don’t know, the window is open.
“We will see what happens. We just need to focus on training and to take this for the next game. So it’s just one point. Let’s focus on the performance, take this to the next game.”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes also launched a defence of the summer signing. He hit back at the fans who jeered Zirkzee and said the dressing room has full belief that the forward will be a success at Old Trafford.
“I was in the stands [against Newcastle] and have never seen something like this and it really frustrates me and annoys me because he is a player that always gives his all,” Fernandes said.
“As a player that is coming into the team from a different league he needs time to adapt but he has huge qualities.
“He hasn’t shown all the quality but it can’t be that from the first game of the season everyone was hyping him as one of the best strikers and now everyone doesn’t believe in him anymore.
“We do believe in him inside the dressing room. I would rather be myself in this position against Newcastle and not seeing one of my team-mates in that position.”
