Manchester United have completed the permanent transfer of forward Joe Hugill to Kilmarnock, while manager Michael Carrick has made clear that Joshua Zirkzee will not be following him out of the club. Hugill, 22, joined United from Sunderland as a teenager but failed to break into the first team, spending loan spells at Altrincham, Burton Albion, Wigan, and Carlisle.
Carrick insists Zirkzee remains part of his plans despite reports linking the Dutchman with a return to Italy, where he made his name before moving to Old Trafford in 2024. Zirkzee has struggled for form and fitness this season, making only four Premier League starts and scoring twice. His goal drought prompted United to invest in attacking reinforcements, pushing him down the pecking order, but Carrick has no intention of letting him go.
Speaking about Zirkzee, Carrick said: 'Josh is just trying to work to get fit and get around the group. It has been great to have him back training with the group for the first time. That is as far as it goes, for me and for Josh. I am looking forward to working with him.'
Carrick, appointed head coach until the end of the season, acknowledged that late transfer activity cannot be ruled out, with the window closing on Monday night. 'Never say never. A lot can happen and situations can be thrown up,' he said. 'We are calm about it.'
United's primary objective is securing a midfielder, though their preferred targets – including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba – are unlikely to be available until the summer and would command substantial fees.
