Joshua Zirkzee tipped to make shock January transfer away from Man Utd just months after joining club

A Premier League legend has suggested Joshua Zirkzee should consider a surprise loan move after a poor start to his Manchester United career.

Zirkzee joined United from Bologna for a reported fee of £36.5m in July. That was after he helped the Serie A side to a fifth-place finish and Champions League qualification with a respectable tally of 11 goals in 34 league appearances last term.

However, his first few months at United have not gone as well as he may have wished. The Dutchman had a dream start, scoring on his Premier League debut in a 1-0 win over Fulham on August 16.

Since then, he has failed to net in his last six Premier League appearances. Zirkzee’s general play has shown signs of promise but he does not look like the clinical striker that United need.

As a result, former West Ham United and Sheffield Wednesday forward Paolo Di Canio has urged another of his former clubs, Juventus, to start “negotiating” with United for a possible loan in January.

“There’s so much confusion at Man United that they could even give him away on loan,” he told TuttoSport.

“They already have [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Marcus] Rashford, who play in that position. He would be an ideal profile and give Motta a player with a different skill set from Vlahovic.

“I’d start negotiations now—a loan with an option to buy. Zirkzee is not a deadly finisher; he won’t score 25 goals, but he makes his teammates play well.”

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled at Manchester United (Credit:Getty)

“But I would start the negotiations now: a loan with maybe the possibility of redeeming him. Zirkzee is not a devastating scorer; he is not one to score 25 goals, but he makes the others play well,” he added.

Di Canio did not stop there. He also cited Zirkzee’s lack of pace as part of the reason he has struggled in the Premier League so far.

“For the Premier League, he is a bit too slow, then maybe he will prove me wrong with goals and great performances, but there they attack you straightaway and whistle 30 per cent less for fouls,” Di Canio explained.

“In Italy, we have seen what impact the player had in Bologna.”

There is nothing to suggest any formal approaches have taken place for Zirkzee ahead of the winter transfer window.