Zirkzee makes transfer decision as ‘serious possibility’ becomes reality for Man Utd star

Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee has made a big step towards deciding his future as he continues to be linked with a move to West Ham United in the January transfer window.

Zirkzee has been made peripheral by Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim, who has rarely used the Netherlands striker after a €200 million investment into the club’s forward line in the summer.

With Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha hitting form with the Red Devils, the stock of the former Bologna and Bayern Munich attacker has dropped further.

Fabrizio Romano said last week that Zirkzee has not decided his future but that it is a “serious possibility” that he pushes for a January transfer – even if Man Utd are certain to accept any transfer request after turning down Kobbie Mainoo’s plea to leave in the summer.

Now Sky Sport Switzerland transfer insider Sacha Tavolieri claims that Zirkzee will ask to leave Old Trafford and has outlined where he wants to play next.

“The player, who is aiming for a place in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, would prefer to stay in the Premier League,” he says.

Zirkzee offered to West Ham

West Ham have been linked with a move for Zirkzee, with the transfer expert going so far as to claim that the player has been offered to the struggling Hammers. While it is not made explicitly clear who has proposed this transfer, it is likely to have come from the player’s side.

With Roma deep in financial trouble, they hold a clear edge in this race, and with the Dutchman wanting to stay in England, that is only emphasised.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are known to be in the market for an attacking reinforcement this January, having only signed free agent Callum Wilson to bolster their forward line in the summer. The Hammers have recognised this as a “mistake” and will seek to rectify it in January.

As well as Zirkzee, West Ham have been linked with Real Madrid forward Endrick and Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, so the London side are clearly leaving their options open as the transfer window approaches.

Man Utd, meanwhile, may wish to secure a replacement for Zirkzee before allowing him to leave as their depth is scant in the centre-forward role.

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