Manchester United will not sign a replacement if they sanction an exit for Joshua Zirkzee in the final hour of the transfer window. Zirkzee is attracting interest from Everton, who want to take the Dutch forward on loan. United have no time to sign a replacement, so they would be a man down if they allow the player to join the Toffees.
Zirkzee keen on move to Merseyside
Zirkzee has been an unused substitute in the first two Premier League games of the season. The return of Marcus Rashford has also strengthened the attacking options available to Michael Carrick. Zirkzee is aware he is going to struggle for minutes this season and he is keen on making the move to Merseyside, having seen temporary switches to Fiorentina and Juventus collapse in recent days.
A departure from Old Trafford has appeared increasingly inevitable for some months. And it now appears Zirkzee could stay in the Premier League even if he leaves United, with Everton emerging as a frontrunner for his signature.
Everton submit loan proposal
The Toffees have submitted a proposal to United to secure Zirkzee on loan as they seek to bolster their attacking options. Everton had been expected to sign Monaco striker Folarin Balogun for £40million, though reports suggest that particular deal is in jeopardy ahead of the deadline due to medical complications. Everton has identified Zirkzee as a viable alternative to Balogun should a deal for the former Arsenal frontman fail to materialise.
With less than 60 minutes remaining before the 11pm deadline, United are yet to reach a decision on whether to accept Everton's loan proposal for Zirkzee.
Zirkzee's declining role at United
Zirkzee found himself slipping down the pecking order over the past year, particularly following United's recruitment activity last summer. Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all put pen to paper at United last year, leaving Zirkzee with precious little pitch time last season and fuelling speculation that an exit could be on the horizon this summer.
Zirkzee is yet to feature for United this campaign, having been named among the unused substitutes in both of their opening Premier League fixtures against Hull City and Ipswich Town. Carrick was quizzed on the prospect of United bolstering their squad further following the 5-2 victory over Ipswich at the weekend.
"It's always difficult to say, to be honest, when there's so little time left," Carrick said when asked if he expected to add to his squad. "I think the situation that we're in, I think the business that we've managed to do, I'm pleased with. I think we're a better group, a better squad, potentially a better team. Adding Marcus [Rashford] into that feels like a new signing. So, in that respect, we're quite happy. We're always open to if there's something else to be able to add, so I wouldn't shut that down, but as it stands, we'll have to wait and see."
