Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly attracting serious interest from Saudi Arabia after a difficult start to the new season at Manchester United, with his future at Old Trafford once again becoming a major talking point.
The Dutch forward has found himself struggling for regular minutes under Michael Carrick, and growing competition for places in United’s attack has raised fresh questions about whether the 25-year-old still has a long-term future at the club.
Zirkzee’s situation has become particularly complicated because Manchester United have significantly strengthened their attacking options. The arrival of Benjamin Sesko has increased competition for the central striking position, while Matheus Cunha and other attacking players can also operate through the middle. Zirkzee consequently faces a difficult battle for consistent playing time, and reports of interest from clubs outside England have naturally created speculation about whether his time at Old Trafford could be approaching an early conclusion.
The forward’s latest situation is especially notable because he was given an opportunity to make an impact during United’s Champions League return against Sabah. Zirkzee came off the bench during the second half of the 4-0 victory, combining with Mason Mount during one promising attacking move and remaining involved in the final stages of the match.
However, the fact that he was once again used as a substitute illustrates the problem facing him. Zirkzee needs regular football to build rhythm and confidence, but United currently have several players competing for attacking positions. Carrick’s selection decisions have therefore left the Dutchman in an uncomfortable position, particularly after United’s impressive attacking performance against Sabah.
The situation represents a significant change from the expectations surrounding Zirkzee when he first arrived at Manchester United. The club signed him from Bologna in July 2024 for a reported fee of just over £35 million, believing that his technical ability, link-up play and versatility could give the attack a different dimension.
Zirkzee was never simply viewed as a traditional penalty-box striker. His ability to drop into deeper positions, combine with midfielders and bring other attackers into play was considered one of his biggest strengths. At Bologna, those qualities helped establish his reputation as a forward capable of playing more than one role.
But adapting to Manchester United proved far more difficult than many expected. The pressure associated with playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world was enormous, and every missed opportunity or quiet performance attracted significant attention. There were already moments during his United career when the relationship between the player and supporters became strained.
That history makes the current Saudi Arabia speculation particularly interesting. A move to the Saudi Pro League could offer Zirkzee an opportunity to restart his career away from the intense pressure surrounding him at Old Trafford. Instead of competing for minutes in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues, he could potentially become an important attacking player at a club prepared to build its forward line around him.
Financially, a Saudi move could also be extremely attractive. Saudi clubs have demonstrated their willingness to offer substantial contracts to established international players, and Zirkzee’s age and previous experience in European football could make him an appealing target. However, any potential transfer would depend on the player’s own ambitions as well as Manchester United’s valuation.
United would also need to decide whether selling Zirkzee makes sense from a sporting perspective. The club invested heavily in him, and allowing him to leave without giving him an extended opportunity under Carrick could eventually be viewed as a mistake if he rediscovers his best form elsewhere.
There is another important factor: Zirkzee’s versatility. Although he has struggled to establish himself as United’s first-choice striker, he offers something different from several of the club’s other forwards. He can play as a No. 9, drop into midfield and link attacks. That tactical flexibility could become valuable during a long season involving the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup competitions.
Carrick will therefore have a difficult decision to make. Keeping Zirkzee provides additional depth, but the player needs meaningful minutes. If the manager continues to select other forwards ahead of him, Zirkzee could eventually decide that leaving is the best option for his career.
The emergence of Benjamin Sesko has made the situation even more complicated. Sesko’s arrival has given United another powerful young striker capable of leading the line, and his early impact has already attracted attention. He scored against Everton and then found the net again during the 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah.
That means Zirkzee is not only competing against established attacking players but also against a striker who has quickly become one of the most exciting young forwards in the squad. If Sesko continues scoring, it will become increasingly difficult for Zirkzee to force his way into the starting XI.
United’s attacking structure could also work against him. Carrick has demonstrated that he is willing to use Cunha in a central role, while Marcus Rashford and Bryan Mbeumo provide further options in advanced positions. Mason Mount can also operate behind the striker. With so many possibilities available, there are simply not enough starting positions for everyone.
This is why the Saudi Arabia speculation cannot be completely dismissed as insignificant, even though the latest reporting does not establish that a move is close. Zirkzee’s lack of regular football is a genuine issue, and United will eventually have to decide what they want to do with him.
Interestingly, recent reporting has pointed in different directions. A report on September 1 said journalist Ben Jacobs believed Zirkzee intended to remain at Manchester United and that a move to a Saudi Pro League club was not close. That is important because it directly contradicts the idea that a Saudi transfer is already nearing completion.
There was also reported interest from Everton before the transfer deadline, with the Merseyside club making a late loan proposal after another attacking deal collapsed. The fact that Zirkzee attracted Premier League interest demonstrates that there were alternatives available, even though nothing ultimately resulted in a move.
For Zirkzee, the biggest priority should arguably be regular football rather than simply leaving Manchester United. At 25, he remains young enough to rebuild his reputation in European football. A successful loan or transfer could help him rediscover the confidence and consistency that made United invest heavily in him in the first place.
Saudi Arabia would offer financial security and potentially a prominent role, but leaving Europe at this stage could also carry sporting consequences. Zirkzee still has ambitions of playing at the highest level, and a move away from European football could make it more difficult to remain in the international spotlight.
From Manchester United’s perspective, the club must also avoid making a rushed decision based solely on the player’s current lack of minutes. The season is long, injuries will happen and squad rotation will become unavoidable. A player who appears surplus to requirements in September could become extremely important by January.
The 4-0 victory over Sabah demonstrated exactly why Carrick needs a deep squad. United were able to rotate several players while maintaining a high level of performance, and Zirkzee was among those who received minutes. If he can use those opportunities to convince the manager that he deserves more playing time, his situation could change quickly.
The Dutchman therefore still has the ability to turn the situation around. One strong performance, followed by a goal or assist in the Premier League, could immediately change the narrative surrounding him. Football careers can change rapidly, especially at a club where competition for places is intense.
Nevertheless, the continued speculation surrounding his future shows that Zirkzee’s position at Old Trafford is far from secure. If he remains on the bench for several more weeks, interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere could become more serious.
For now, however, the idea that Zirkzee is definitely close to joining a Saudi Arabian club should be treated cautiously. The latest available reporting does not confirm such a transfer, and there has been evidence suggesting that the player himself wanted to remain at Manchester United.
What is certain is that Zirkzee faces a crucial period in his Manchester United career. He must convince Carrick that he can contribute to the team’s ambitions, while the club must decide whether patience is the right approach or whether a transfer would benefit everyone involved.
The next few weeks could therefore be decisive. If Zirkzee gets more opportunities and takes them, the Saudi Arabia rumours may disappear as quickly as they emerged. But if his role remains limited and the competition ahead of him continues to grow, Manchester United may eventually have to consider whether moving him on is the best solution.
For a player who arrived at Old Trafford with considerable expectations, the coming months could determine whether Joshua Zirkzee becomes an important part of United’s future or begins the next chapter of his career somewhere else.