Manchester United accepts possibility of Zirkzee staying amid transfer block

Manchester United wanted to ship out at least one of their underperforming forwards this summer. Instead, they’re keeping both. Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford are set to remain at Old Trafford after the club failed to finalize exits for either player, leaving manager Michael Carrick with a squad depth headache.

United spent £36.5m to sign Zirkzee from Bologna in the summer of 2024, expecting the Dutch striker to inject life into their attack. With just 9 goals in 75 appearances across all competitions, the club has been scrambling to find him a new home.

The deals that didn’t happen

Fiorentina emerged as the most serious suitor for Zirkzee, entering discussions over a season-long loan that would have included an option to buy for around £4.2m. Those talks collapsed without a resolution. Juventus and Roma also circled Zirkzee at various points this summer, but neither club pushed negotiations to the finish line.

Rashford’s situation is arguably more complicated. The 28-year-old returned from a loan spell at Barcelona where he scored 14 goals. Barcelona, however, declined to exercise their buy option, sending him back to a club that would very much prefer he were someone else’s problem.

United has reportedly blocked transfer interest from domestic rivals including Manchester City and Liverpool, holding out for a permanent sale to a non-threatening buyer. The issue is that no such buyer has materialized at United’s asking price.

A wage bill that won’t budge

The core of United’s dilemma is financial, not footballing. Both Zirkzee and Rashford command significant wages, and the club’s priority this summer has been to lighten that burden. United has been channeling its transfer energy toward midfield reinforcements, but moving underperforming attackers without eating a massive loss has proven nearly impossible.

Zirkzee’s contract runs through June 2029, which means United is on the hook for years of wages if they can’t find a solution.

United doesn’t want to loan Rashford again because that just delays the problem by another season. They want a permanent exit, and no buying club has been willing to meet their price.

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