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MID-JANUARY UPDATE: AS ROMA EXPECTS JOSHUA ZIRKZEE ARRIVAL ONCE AMAD RETURNS FROM AFCON DUTY

Joshua Zirkzee has reportedly agreed to join AS Roma in January. Ruben Amorim warns that no one leaves United without a replacement.

Mid-January Update: AS Roma Expects Joshua Zirkzee Arrival Once Amad Returns from AFCON Duty
Man Utd Receive Official Roma Bid for Zirkzee

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.

THOMAS TUCHEL AND CARLO ANCELOTTI RULE OUT MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER JOB VACANCY

Michael Carrick remains unbeaten as Man United manager! Read about his 2-0 win over City and why Tuchel and Ancelotti are ruled out.

top-news
Manchester United’s Interim Boss Is Rewriting The Future Today

Manchester United are still searching for a new permanent manager after Ruben Amorim’s exit, even though Michael Carrick’s start as caretaker has turned some heads. Carlo Ancelotti’s already made it clear he’s not interested, and Thomas Tuchel just committed his future to England.

Carrick stepped in after Amorim got sacked last month, and so far, he’s done well. If the good results keep coming, United might offer him the job full-time, but they’re still looking at other options.

Tuchel was in the running for a while, but on Thursday, he signed a new deal with the England national team. He’s staying put until after Euro 2028.

Then there’s Ancelotti. He’s coaching Brazil now and looks set to extend his contract there soon. United reportedly had him on their list, but last year, the Italian pretty much ruled out returning to club football unless Real Madrid came calling.

Back in September 2025, Ancelotti spoke to L’Equipe about his future. He didn’t leave much room for doubt and said there’s only one European side he’d consider managing again.

“Real Madrid is the only team I will accept managing after Brazil,” Ancelotti said. So, with that and his new Brazil deal, United can cross his name off for good.

So, who takes over after this season? No one knows yet. Carrick, since stepping back in January, hasn’t lost a single match.

He kicked things off by leading United to a 2-0 win over Manchester City can’t ask for a better start. After that, they beat Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham, and then grabbed a last-minute draw against West Ham.

This unbeaten run has fans and pundits calling for Carrick to get the job permanently. After the win over Fulham, people wanted to know what he thought about his future. Carrick kept it honest: “Nothing’s changed, to be honest.

“I know what I’m here to do and what’s expected of me. We want success, and I want the club to be successful down the line—whether that’s with me or someone else.

“I can’t control what happens next. All I can do is try to make the team better and make United stronger. A handful of good results doesn’t change that. If it does, something’s off.

“You can’t just react to a few games, good or bad. It’s about building something solid.”

THE £70M HOMECOMING: WHY MAN UNITED DREAM OF RE-SIGNING SERIE A MVP SCOTT MCTOMINAY

Manchester United wants Scott McTominay back! Discover the £70m price tag and why Tottenham is eyeing Michael Carrick for manager.

top-news
Napoli Demand €80m As United Prepare Bold Scott McTominay Transfer Offer

Manchester United want Scott McTominay back at Old Trafford, and it’s no secret what it’ll cost them. Meanwhile, Tottenham are eyeing a bold move for a new manager.

McTominay left United in August 2024, heading to Napoli for £25 million even though he’d just finished his best season yet, scoring some big goals and keeping Erik ten Hag in the job. Since then, he’s thrived in Italy. Last season, he helped Napoli win the Serie A title and even picked up the league’s MVP award. No wonder Premier League clubs are paying attention. United want him back, and they’re at the front of the queue.

The word from Italy is United “dream of a reunion. McTominay’s happy in Naples, but he’s got unfinished business at United and wants to prove his critics wrong. Napoli’s chief, Leonardo Giammarioli, admitted he’s worried about losing his star midfielder if a massive offer comes in. He even compared it to Nick Woltemade’s exit from Stuttgart.

Fraser Fletcher, our transfer guy, broke the story back in November that United and Arsenal are both looking at McTominay, and Spurs are interested too. But McTominay’s not leaving for just any club. He wants the right project. And it won’t be cheap. Napoli want at least €80m (£70m/$95m) if they’re going to let their 29-year-old star go.

For United, McTominay is one of several targets as they look to rebuild their midfield. Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton are also on the list.

Now, about Michael Carrick: United loves what he’s done as interim boss. But they’re not the only ones. Graeme Bailey says Tottenham are seriously considering Carrick for their permanent manager job. Carrick played for both United and Spurs, and Tottenham already thought about him before hiring Thomas Frank last summer. His quick adjustment to Premier League management hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Spurs have brought in Igor Tudor as interim manager, but Carrick’s in the mix to take over this summer. Of course, it depends on whether United decide to keep him themselves. Sources say United are really impressed with his style and attitude, though they’re still weighing their options.

United aren’t just busy with managers; they’re scouting too. This weekend, they’ll have people watching Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco and Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu in the Derby d’Italia. Kalulu’s been all over the pitch for Juve, playing centre-back, right-back, and wing-back. Dimarco, on the other hand, has been electric for Inter at left wing-back, with six goals and 13 assists in 31 games. Both United and Arsenal are watching closely.

Dimarco might be easier to sign than Kalulu because of his contract. Inter want to extend his deal, but for now, it runs out in June 2027. United have been dreaming about him as their new left-back.

On another note, England rugby captain Maro Itoje spoke out against Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent comments on immigration. “I disagree with the terminology and sentiments of what he said,” Itoje told the BBC. “I do not believe that immigrants have colonised Great Britain. That’s just not true, and it’s the wrong thing to say.

“I’m a proud Londoner, proud to play for and captain England. That’s one of my greatest accomplishments. But I’m also of Nigerian descent, and I’m proud of that heritage too.

“Honestly, I think Ratcliffe’s wording was clumsy, and his numbers were wrong. I saw he apologised, and I respect people who can admit when they’ve messed up and say sorry. So, credit to him for that.”

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