Ruben Amorim takes Erik ten Hag flop OFF transfer list

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 3 Dec 2024 12:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Ruben Amorim has taken Joshua Zirkzee off the transfer list after his impressive performance for Manchester United against Everton on Sunday.

According to reports in the Italian media, Amorim now wants to take a closer look at Zirkzee and see if he can build on the promise shown in the 4-0 win at Old Trafford.

Zirkzee scored twice and started to look like the player United thought they were buying from Bologna.

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Amorim was very impressed with Zirkzee and wants to see how the Dutchman does in the next month before making a decision on his future.

Ahead of the game, it had been widely reported that Zirkzee was available on loan in January.

Indeed, United had already begun informing clubs via agents that Zirkzee was listed for loan.

The plan from United had been that a successful loan move would raise Zirkzee’s value ahead of a summer sale at the end of the season.

The Italian media were confident that Juventus were the favourites to sign Zirkzee on loan as the Dutchman worked successfully with Bianconeri manager Thiago Motta at Bologna last season.

The 23-year-old Zirkzee was one of the standout players in Serie A last season, and he was often compared to former Milan and Barcelona star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But until Sunday he had been yet to show that form at Old Trafford.

Zirkzee joined Man Utd this past summer in a €42.5 million move from Bologna.

The striker scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham but struggled badly after that and failed to score another goal until the double versus Everton.

Amorim now wants to see if Zirkzee can build on this in the coming weeks.

Zirkzee at Bologna

Zirkzee led Bologna to a shock qualification into this season’s Champions League under manager Thiago Motta.

Zirkzee delivered 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions as Bologna finished fifth in Serie A.

He was the key man for a Bologna team who performed well above their weight under Motta to qualify for the Champions League.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Zirkzee is a giant of a striker who at Bologna was expert at holding up the ball and bringing others into play.

Zirkzee went to Euro 2024 with Netherlands but barely featured under Ronald Koeman.