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According to The Sun, recently sacked Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag didn't want to sign Joshua Zirkzee this summer. The report adds that the Dutch manager was furious when the player arrived at Old Trafford overweight.
The Red Devils were active in their first summer transfer window under new minority owners INEOS. The Premier League giants wanted a new No. 9, despite already having Rasmus Hojlund in their ranks.
Joshua Zirkzee was identified as the target, following a fine campaign with Bologna. The Dutchman registered 12 goals and seven assists from 37 games across competitions for the Serie A club last season, which earned him a move to Manchester United.
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However, he was not Ten Hag's preferred choice for the role this summer. The new club hierarchy, though, saw good value in a £36.5m deal for the 23-year-old.
When Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford, he was apparently a stone overweight, which further infuriated the Dutch manager. The striker came off the bench against Fulham to make his debut in the opening game of the season and scored the winner.
It initially appeared the Red Devils had struck gold, but it soon proved to be a false dawn. Zirkzee failed to find the back of the net in the next 14 games and dropped down the pecking order at Manchester United. He has one goal and two assists from 15 games across competitions for United.
Will Manchester United sign a new No. 9 in 2025?
Manchester United have struggled to score goals this season. While Joshua Zirkzee has failed to live up to the billing, Rasmus Hojlund hasn't done much better either.
The Danish striker missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury and has endured a difficult start to the campaign since his return. The 21-year-old has just two goals from 10 games across competitions.
The Red Devils have scored just nine times in 10 Premier League games, the third lowest in the league. With Ruben Amorim set to take charge as Erik ten Hag's replacement on November 11, changes could be in order.
Manchester United could be tempted to move for Viktor Gyokeres to sort out their goalscoring conundrum. The Swedish striker has been on fire under Amorim at Sporting so far. He has scored 20 goals and set up four more from 16 games across competitions this season.
