Michael Carrick has been urged to sell Erik ten Hag’s £36.5m Manchester United signing Joshua Zirzkee before the January transfer window closes.
United still have time to complete some last-minute January deals should they wish to do so, with the winter window slamming shut at 7pm on Monday night.
The Red Devils want to sign a new central midfielder but are expected to wait until the summer to sanction a big-money deal in that area of the pitch.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are all being tracked ahead of the summer transfer window.
Two of those three Premier League stars could even be signed with United set to be short in that area after Casemiro announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season.
Carrick is wary of losing any key members of his squad as he eyes a productive end to the season and looks to boost his chances of getting the Manchester United job on a permanent basis.
The former United midfielder has already reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo into the first-team, dismissing any notion the 20-year-old could be offloaded before the January window closes.
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Zirkzee has also been linked with a winter move after largely struggling following his £36.5m move from Bologna in 2024.
The Netherlands international only scored three Premier League goals during his first season at Old Trafford and has started just four games so far this term.
Clubs in Italy have expressed interest in signing Zirkzee and ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes his former club should be looking to cash in.
Asked whether United made a mistake signing Zirkzee and should not sell Ten Hag’s signing, Saha told Gambling.com: ‘I think yes.
‘I will have less concern about him leaving because he’s not playing regularly, he’s not the first choice. If we need a main striker, it’s almost not his type.
‘He could maybe drift on sides, maybe down the middle because he’s very technical. He can adapt, but where’s the player we saw in Italy?
‘I doubt that he’s the same type of player that we’re looking for in the future. So I think maybe in some ways, he will have to think about his own future.
‘At this moment, everyone has to contribute, not to think about their future, not thinking about anything else and try to gel with Carrick, do their best and then whatever the contract is for, agent talks, maybe media.
‘I’m still thinking as a player, and he has to just think about working hard, improve the communication with other players, especially with the midfield and see how he goes.
‘If at the end of the season he scores 10 goals, he will have the move that he wants.’
Zirkzee was said to be open to a January move earlier in the month in order to boost his fading hopes of going to this summer’s World Cup.
But it was reported last week that Zirzkee was now determined to stay at United and fight for a place in the team.
Asked about Zirkzee’s future at Old Trafford on Friday, Carrick said: ‘I think Josh has just been trying to work to get fit and get back around the group and it’s been great to have him back training yesterday with a group for the first time.
‘That’s literally as far as it goes for me and for Josh. I’m looking forward to working with him. That’s it. Nothing else needs to be said.’
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