Man Utd to keep Zirkzee amid French prospect chase and Lavia rejection

Manchester United’s winter transfer strategy is unraveling in real time — not with a splashy signing, but with a tangled web of conflicting reports, frustrated ambitions, and one very uncertain Dutch striker. On November 20, 2025, The United Stand, the club’s largest independent fan channel based in Manchester, England, dropped a video that sparked a firestorm of speculation. Journalist Ben Jacobs, known for his deep-dive transfer analysis, hinted that Manchester United would hold onto Joshua Zirkzee, the 23-year-old Dutch forward, despite his lack of minutes this season. But just hours later, Italian outlets claimed Zirkzee had already chosen his exit route: AS Roma.

Why Zirkzee’s Future Is the Key to Everything

Here’s the thing: Manchester United don’t need another striker — unless Zirkzee leaves. The club has already spent £200 million on Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha this year alone. Add in the fact that Mason Mount, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo can all play behind the striker, and the picture becomes clear: they’re not short on options. They’re just short on confidence in Zirkzee.

But here’s the twist: if Zirkzee stays, they won’t sign anyone else in January. If he goes? Suddenly, the door swings wide open. Fabrizio Romano, the Italian journalist and The Guardian’s chief correspondent in Milan, made this crystal clear: “Zirkzee’s playing time over the next six weeks will dictate whether United move for a new forward.” That’s not speculation — it’s a direct conditional. No minutes, no new striker. More minutes? A deal could still happen.

The French Dreams That Might Not Come True

While Zirkzee’s fate hangs in the balance, United’s scouting team has been quietly tracking two rising French talents: Jeremy Jacquet, the 18-year-old forward from Ligue 2, and Mohamed Kader Meite, the 17-year-old midfielder who’s been lighting up youth tournaments for Lille’s academy. Both are seen as long-term projects — not immediate fixes. But here’s where it gets messy: they were willing to pivot hard to land Romeo Lavia, the 20-year-old Belgian midfielder from Southampton. That deal collapsed, reportedly over wages and a reluctance to pay a £40 million premium for a player who’s yet to start a Premier League game this season.

Now, sources say United could miss out on another target — referred to only as “Joao” — a player with ties to Portuguese clubs but no confirmed identity. The lack of details here is telling. Either the club is being deliberately vague, or the trail has gone cold. Either way, it’s another sign that their transfer engine is sputtering.

Conflicting Reports, Confused Fans

The confusion isn’t just media noise — it’s real. TNT Sports reported definitively on November 21 that Zirkzee will remain at Old Trafford through the season. But Football Fancast, citing Italian reports from Sport Witness, says Zirkzee has told his agents he wants to join Roma. Why Roma? Because they’ve offered him a chance to play — and because they’re one of the few clubs in Europe willing to pay £25 million for a player who’s scored just three goals in 17 appearances for United this season.

Meanwhile, The United Stand — which has built a loyal following by sticking to facts over hype — didn’t confirm either side. Instead, they focused on the £200 million spent on new forwards and the overcrowded midfield, implying Zirkzee’s exit might be inevitable. “They’ve already bought the future,” one anonymous source told Jacobs. “Now they just need to decide if they want to keep the present.”

What This Means for Old Trafford

This isn’t just about one striker. It’s about identity. Manchester United spent half a billion pounds on attacking players in 2025. Yet they still can’t find a consistent goal scorer. Zirkzee, once seen as a promising finisher, has become a symbol of their tactical indecision. He’s not bad — he’s just not playing. And when a club spends that much, playing time isn’t a privilege — it’s a requirement.

If Zirkzee stays, United will have to justify why they’re not using him. If he leaves, they’ll need to replace him — and fast. But with the January window closing in, and no clear target lined up, the pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag. And the fans? They’re watching, waiting, and wondering if this is the year the club finally stops buying stars and starts building a team.

What’s Next? The January Deadline Looms

The next 30 days will be decisive. Zirkzee’s next two starts — against Brentford on January 4 and Arsenal on January 18 — will be watched like a referendum. If he plays and scores, he might earn a reprieve. If he’s benched again? The whispers will become screams. Meanwhile, scouts are still circling Jacquet and Meite, but with Lavia gone, the club’s appetite for risky youth purchases has cooled. They’ll need a proven name — not a project.

And that’s the real problem. United have money. They have ambition. But they don’t have clarity. Not yet.