Joshua Zirkzee Key To Man Utd Transfers As Interest Remains

Why Man United have always needed a striker this summer.

On the field, Manchester United could not have had a worse start to the season, with a 2-0 loss to newly-promoted Hull City.

In almost every regard, the Tigers outperformed the Red Devils, which will leave Michael Carrick with many tactical headaches.

Off the field, United could be braced for a very busy week with the transfer deadline on the 1st of September on the horizon.

In terms of incomings, Carlos Baleba has now completed his move from Brighton and Hove Albion . His first words as a Manchester United player can be found here .

Outgoings could be key for United if they want to bring in more players, as the futures of some senior squad and academy players are pivotal to the club.

Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with a move away all summer, with the same Serie A clubs hovering around the player but yet to make a formal offer. However, with the transfer deadline approaching, a deal may be more likely to advance.

According to Laurie Whitwell, the likes of Juventus and Como have shown clear interest in bringing the Dutchman back to Italy , where he excelled at Bologna .

He also reported that three other unnamed Premier League clubs are interested in him. One of those clubs could be Aston Villa , with the Midlands club looking for a striker and having previously been linked with the centre forward.

The departure of Zirkzee is so important because Whitwell also suggested that if the Dutchman did leave, the club could return to the market for a striker to deputise for or compete with Benjamin Sesko .

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Zirkzee is undoubtedly a good footballer with a lot of talent, but the Dutchman has failed to adapt to life at Old Trafford, meaning a departure is best for all parties.

Against Hull City and at times last season, it was abundantly clear that without a real focal point up front, the team looked lost. While Matheus Cunha (who started up front against Hull), Bryan Mbeumo , and Marcus Rashford can play there, they lack the instincts and presence of an out-and-out striker.

When Sesko came on against Hull, it was clear that the impact of having a player consistently making those runs, even if the players could not find him, was hugely beneficial.

Whether it is an experienced player like Jean-Philippe Mateta or a riskier option like the youthful Nicolò Tresoldi , a striker is needed.