Manchester United have reportedly slammed the brakes on all outgoing January transfers in the immediate aftermath of sacking manager Ruben Amorim, with a proposed move for striker Joshua Zirkzee now in serious doubt.
Transfer Talks Halted After Managerial Change
The club's decision to suspend negotiations was revealed by AS Roma's sporting director Frederic Massara, who confirmed that United have "closed off all transfer talks" following the change in leadership. This directly impacts the Italian club's pursuit of Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee.
Zirkzee, 24, has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since his summer 2024 move from Bologna, scoring just nine times in 64 appearances. His opportunities have diminished further this season following the arrivals of attackers Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko.
Zirkzee's Stalled Serie A Return
Both AC Milan and AS Roma had been keen to bring the out-of-favour striker back to Serie A. Massara had previously expressed optimism about a deal, telling Sky Sports Italy that Zirkzee was "liked by many clubs." However, the situation changed dramatically after Amorim's departure.
"At the moment, United have closed off all transfer talks after the change of manager," Massara told DAZN. "I doubt they'll change their minds." He added that there are currently "no contacts in progress" regarding the player.
Amorim's Exit and Immediate Aftermath
Ruben Amorim was sacked on Monday, January 5th, 2026, after a poor run of results and a public fallout with the club's hierarchy. The Portuguese coach had challenged sporting director Jason Wilcox to do 'his job' in a fiery press conference after a draw with Leeds United, which proved to be his final match.
United stated the decision was made to give the team, then sitting sixth in the Premier League, the best chance of a high finish. Academy boss Darren Fletcher has taken temporary charge, overseeing a 2-2 draw with Burnley and preparing for an FA Cup tie against Brighton.
For Joshua Zirkzee, who came off the bench at Turf Moor, the managerial upheaval presents both uncertainty and a potential opportunity. He will now be hoping to impress any incoming permanent manager and revive his fortunes at Manchester United, with a January exit now appearing highly unlikely.
