Joshua Zirkzee has told AS Roma yes and is set to join them in January, if you believe the Italian press.

Zirkzee, who's 24, made a big splash when he came to Old Trafford in the summer of 2024. His £36.5 million transfer on a five-year contract was the first big move under the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe ownership.

Back then, Erik ten Hag was in charge, and Zirkzee was brought in to try and add some firepower to a struggling attack. The team had only managed 57 Premier League goals in the 2023-24 season.

But things didn't pan out as planned. Last season, the forward only managed seven goals in 49 games. And since Ruben Amorim took over from Ten Hag last November, Zirkzee hasn't been getting much playing time.

As Daily Mail Sport said before, he wants to get more game time ahead of next summer's World Cup, so he is checking out other teams.

La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Dutch player had good chats with Roma's sporting director, Ricky Massara, and coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, which led to him agreeing to the switch.

Apparently, Gasperini told Zirkzee he'd fit right into his 3-4-2-1 setup, which he made famous at Atalanta, playing in any of the front three positions.

The Italian paper also says Zirkzee should be in Rome by mid-January. By that time, United should have Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo back after the AFCON tournament.

Don't think it'll be easy, though. Amorim has said nobody leaves Old Trafford unless they bring in someone to take their spot.

It's going to be hard for someone to leave if we don't get a substitution, the United boss said.

We are short. Even with the full squad, we are short for something that can happen.

We are a club with a big responsibility… we need to win every game. There are no excuses.

Roma is supposedly trying to work out a six-month loan first and then buy Zirkzee in the summer for around £35 million. That would mean United gets most of its money back.

If this goes ahead, Zirkzee might not be the only United player heading to Italy. Kobbie Mainoo is also interested in a move to Napoli, where Scott McTominay is doing well.

But Amorim still thinks the young midfielder has a future at Old Trafford.

Kobbie Mainoo will have the chance, Amorim said. He's going to be the future of Manchester United; that's how I feel. He just needs to wait for his chance, and things can change in football fast.

Napoli seems to be in the lead for Mainoo. But United isn't too keen on short-term replacements in January and might wait until the summer to bring in a new midfielder.

They are keeping an eye on Everton's James Garner, who is entering the last six months of his contract.

Daily Mail Sport also mentioned that Garner, who came up through United's youth system, is seen as a cheap option to add alongside bigger signings in the summer, with Elliot Anderson being their main midfield target.

Jamie Carragher, who talks about soccer on Sky Sports, is kind of backtracking on what he said about Casemiro. Remember how Carragher said back in May 2024 that soccer had left him? Well, now that Casemiro is doing better under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, Carragher is changing his tune and saying the 33-year-old still has some game left.

Carragher Takes Back Harsh Words About Casemiro From 2024

Casemiro has been playing a big part for Amorim this season. He's started 15 out of 16 league games when he's been available, and he's scored four goals for United.

He's got six months left on his contract at Old Trafford, and no one knows what will happen next. But he's sure to be important for the rest of the season as United tries to get back into the Champions League. They're back in the top five after beating Newcastle United right after Christmas.

Carragher has noticed that Casemiro is playing better, even though Carragher gave him a hard time a year and a half ago. Before United's game against Newcastle, Carragher said Casemiro looked fitter and almost a stone lighter than he did on that awful night in London in May 2024 when Crystal Palace beat United 4-0.

'Good on 'Him'—Casemiro Gets Praise After a Good 2025/26 Season

Before the game, Carragher looked a little embarrassed when asked about what he said about Casemiro before.

Not yet (laughs), Carragher said on Sky Sports. Good on him, but Man United was way down in the standings last season. But, you know, when I see him now? Good on him; he looks physically different. I remember that Crystal Palace game; he looks way lighter. He was never going to leave with that contract; that's the problem with the deals they've made since they last won the league. It's not going to be renewed, so that's where they'll start looking for new players in January or the summer.

What Carragher Said About Casemiro in May 2024

Carragher really went after Casemiro after he played badly against Crystal Palace. Michael Olise scored twice, and Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell also scored.

Carragher said live on Sky Sports that night, "Casemiro should know he only has three games left at the top level." The next two league games and the cup final, then he should think about going to the MLS or Saudi Arabia.

This has to stop because we're watching one of the greats. I always remember the saying, 'Leave the soccer before the soccer leaves you.'

The soccer has left him. He needs to stop playing at this level and move on. He's too good to play like that and get laughed at by Crystal Palace. He needs to call it a day.

Casemiro Has a Big Job as United Tries for Europe

United is back in the top five in the league after beating Newcastle 1-0 on Friday. Patrick Dorgu scored the winning goal.

Casemiro started for Amorim, but Leny Yoro replaced him after an hour. Like in other games this season, United wasn't as good when Casemiro came off—but they managed to win.

Carragher said that Casemiro makes a lot of money—around £350,000 ($452,296) a week—so the club might not renew his contract when it ends on June 30, 2026. He can start talking to other clubs in January, but Amorim said they haven't decided about his contract yet.

No matter what happens in the next six months, Casemiro will be important as United tries to get back into the Champions League. He'll want to keep proving his doubters wrong.