By this summer, Manchester United will pay Bologna Zirkzee's final installment transfer fee. However, the Dutchman's experience with the Red Devils is expected to be over by then. The "Manchester Evening News" commented on Manchester United's deal to introduce Zirkzee.
Zirkzee got his first starting opportunity under Michael Carrick in the game against Sunderland. However, his performance was poor and he failed to prove his ability to gain a foothold in the Premier League. Although he has a tall stature and a strong physique, he seemed to be unable to do what he wanted in that competition.
In 2024, Manchester United introduced Zirkzee from Bologna, with a bid of 36.5 million pounds. The Dutchman's contract with the Italian club had a release clause of slightly more than 34 million pounds, or 40 million euros. However, Manchester United decided to pay 36.5 million pounds in three years in order to have more funds to operate during the transfer window.
From a financial point of view, this decision is wise, but the bigger question is why Manchester United turned to Zirkzee. He scored 12 goals in his final season in Serie A, helping Bologna unexpectedly qualify for the Champions League. He is a unique forward who can only perform well in a system that suits him. He has never shown the ability of a prolific goalscorer and is more of a technical forward who needs the team to build around him, rather than a center who can adapt to the fierce competition of the Premier League.
Looking back on that summer, there was a chaotic situation within Manchester United. Sir Ratcliffe considered sacking Ten Hag, but it finally took him several weeks to make up his mind to continue to trust him. Berada and Ashworth started working in the middle of the summer. It was not clear who was leading the transfer operation. This situation led to the emergence of signings like Zirkzee.
It's hard to imagine that such a deal will happen at Manchester United in 2026. Manchester United's current recruitment strategy has become more stable and more focused on data analysis, which will inevitably mark players like Zirkzee as high-risk. Nearly two years have passed, and Zirkzee's best position is still difficult to determine. He is often called "Nine and a Half", but what does this really mean? Maybe he would be a good false nine, but Manchester United does not use this tactic. He performed best as one of the two No. 10s in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation, but now he can only serve as the No. 9 position.
Zirkzee's performance at the Stadium of Light proved that he is not suitable for this role. The Dutchman only scored 9 goals in 73 games for Manchester United and 51 goals in 231 career games. Carrick said he would not judge Zirkzee based on one game, but the evidence is abundant that the Dutchman will never be a prolific striker.
In the Italian transfer market, there is still demand for Zirkzee. In Serie A, his skills can be better utilized. However, in the Premier League, there is almost no breathing time for forwards. For Manchester United, the Italian club has limited financial resources and it is impossible to recover the original transfer fee paid. They may only accept the option of loan and buyout.
This summer, Manchester United can at least recover the 38 million pounds of Hoylen's buyout fee from Naples to introduce another striker to reduce the pressure on Sheshko; the Slovenian seems to be more suitable for Manchester United's ninth position than Hoylen or Zirkzee, but he needs support; Mbeumo and Cunha are qualified for this role, but they are more inclined to drop back to get the ball rather than open up space to do so, and they may also be placed in other positions.
Manchester United may be looking for a versatile striker to replace Zirkzee who can attack on the wing as well as in the center, otherwise they may consider adding a veteran with rich experience. Welbeck is obviously a suitable candidate and he still has one year left on his contract at Brighton. Manchester United have considered bringing him back twice in recent years. Although he will turn 36 in November, he has had another outstanding season at Brighton and his experience may prove to be invaluable.
Of course, Manchester United has other options. The Red Devils spent about 108 million pounds on Hoylen and Zirkzee. It would be a lucky situation if they could recover half of them. This summer, they should look for a more cost-effective option and use the signing team to find suitable players.