Ruben Amorim Addresses the Future of One of Manchester United Forward Amid Everton Interest
As the January transfer window approaches, Everton are believed to be exploring attacking reinforcements—but their pursuit of Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee could be cut short, with manager Ruben Amorim showing little interest in letting the forward leave.
Everton’s weekend defeat to Manchester City highlighted a recurring problem for Sean Dyche’s side: a lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Despite creating a handful of chances, the Toffees were unable to breach City’s defence and ultimately fell 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland bagging both goals for the reigning champions.
The match featured a frustrating moment for Everton fans when striker Beto failed to convert a golden opportunity in the first half, stretching to meet Iliman Ndiaye’s pass but failing to make proper contact. It was a glaring miss that underscored Everton’s ongoing need for a consistent goal scorer.
With January fast approaching, club officials are reportedly assessing striker options to bolster their attacking threat. Thierno Barry, who joined the club in the summer, remains a long-term project and is not yet ready to lead the line in the Premier League. This has led to speculation that Everton could explore loan deals for players lacking game time at other top clubs.
One such name recently linked with Everton is Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee. The 24-year-old, who made a summer move to Manchester United, has found first-team minutes hard to come by under Ruben Amorim. This lack of regular football could threaten his chances of securing a place in the Netherlands squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting rumours of a potential short-term switch in January.
However, United manager Ruben Amorim has poured cold water on any suggestion that Zirkzee could be allowed to leave on loan. Speaking to The Daily Mail, Amorim acknowledged that players are understandably concerned about their World Cup prospects and often want more minutes on the pitch. But he made it clear that he values Zirkzee as part of his squad for the long term.
“I understand that desire from players to play more, especially with a World Cup on the horizon,” Amorim said. “But at the end of the day, they are our players. We need everyone available to get through the season successfully.”
He continued by addressing the noise that often surrounds clubs like Manchester United: “At our club, there’s always a lot of speculation. Players not playing, players wanting to leave, agents getting involved—it’s part of the environment. But we try to stay focused and make decisions that benefit the team.”
Amorim’s comments suggest that any potential move for Zirkzee in January would likely be blocked, regardless of the player’s personal ambitions or interest from other clubs.
Should Everton Move On?
While Zirkzee may have appeared to be a viable short-term solution for Everton, it seems increasingly unlikely that United will entertain the idea of letting him go mid-season. Even if a deal were possible, questions remain over whether Zirkzee would be the right fit for Everton’s system.
Primarily suited to playing in a supporting striker or number 10 role, Zirkzee may not provide the kind of focal point that Everton need up front. The club already has players who operate best in deeper or creative attacking roles, so adding another in that mold would do little to address their current lack of clinical finishing.
Given the circumstances, Everton manager Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell may be better served by targeting a more traditional centre-forward—someone capable of consistently leading the line and converting half-chances into goals.
For now, any interest in Zirkzee seems to have been more exploratory than concrete. With Amorim making his stance clear and the player’s fit for Everton in question, it would be wise for the Toffees to focus their attention elsewhere as they look to strengthen their attack in January.