Joshua Zirkzee has been strongly linked with a move to Roma in the course of the transfer window, but Manchester United have ended the potential for a deal.
The Netherlands international has made 14 Premier League appearances this season, but just 4 of them have are available the starting XI.
After the summer arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo the forward had fallen down the pecking order and a January departure became a possibility.
The 24-year-old was usually linked with a loan move to Roma over the primary half of the season, with reports suggesting that he had even agreed the switch to the Serie A side.
There was a change of heart in Manchester, though, with the Red Devils deciding against letting Zirkzee move to the Italian capital.
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Roma’s director of football, Frederic Massara, has spoken out in regards to the situation, saying the Premier League giants have taken a firm stance in recent weeks.
‘Manchester United said no quite clearly a few weeks ago they usually haven’t modified their minds,’ he said via the BBC.
Manchester United took their stance on Zirkzee amid the uncertainty within the dugout over January as Ruben Amorim was sacked, replaced by caretaker Darren Fletcher, who has now been replaced by interim boss Michael Carrick.
After a powerful 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday, Carrick’s options in attack actually look quite good, with Mbeumo and Amad back from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sesko, who had shown good goal-scoring form under Fletcher, was an unused substitute within the rousing victory at Old Trafford.
With nearly two weeks left of the transfer window, there stays the likelihood that Manchester United could change their stance on Zirkzee and choose he’s surplus to requirements, especially as they only have Premier League football for the remainder of the season.
The Dutchman missed the win over Manchester City, nevertheless it was attributable to a knock and never any ongoing transfer business.
Roma have made moves away from Zirkzee, signing Donyell Malen from Aston Villa and Robinio Vaz from Marseille.
Of their latest arrivals, Massara said: ‘These are two strong players, obviously one is a young talent with prospects, the opposite is a world who already has a reputation on the European stage.
‘There are still 15 days left of the transfer window and we’ll attempt to be ready for any opportunities, but we’ll need to see how the situation evolves.’
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