Joshua Zirkzee: How Michael Carrick can unleash Man United star

Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee’s career at Old Trafford has been defined by his inability to find a place he calls home. Neither a number nine nor a number ten; a forward unable to inhabit the opposition box, but ineffectual when housed elsewhere on the pitch; and a player who appears wholly unsuited to the cut and thrust of the Premier League.

The 24-year-old Dutchman would not be the first import from Europe to struggle to adapt to English football. A long line of high-profile signings have arrived on these shores amidst glamour and excitement, only to be confronted with a cold, wet Tuesday night in Stoke and wilt at the sight of a rampaging Ryan Shawcross.

A number of Serie A sides are keen to rescue Zirkzee from his nightmare at the Theatre of Dreams, with INEOS understood to be prepared to admit their mistake and sanction an exit, provided a suitable offer arrives which bolsters, rather than drains, the budget this summer.

The remaining book value on the £36.5 million deal with Bologna after two years stands at around the £22m mark, meaning the Red Devils would sell him for at least this figure not to incur a negative PSR hit. But it would be a mistake to give up on an experiment that is yet to produce the results promised.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, there remains a home for Zirkzee to fashion for himself in Manchester – he just needs, firstly, a coach to recognise both his strengths and, more importantly, his weaknesses in order to construct it; and, secondly, to convert his qualities off the pitch into impactful displays on it.

Andy Mitten ( The Athletic ) reveals sources at Carrington contend the Netherlands international is brilliant in training. He is also a popular member of Michael Carrick ‘s squad, having formed strong bonds with a wide range of players, who consistently describe him as one of the team’s most skilful players.

Fellow forward Bryan Mbeumo revealed Zirkzee was the player he was most surprised by after joining from Brentford last summer. “I was really impressed with Josh because he’s a lot more skilful than I would have thought, with the ball and he can just hold the ball very easy with his body and a good strike,” the Cameroonian said in February.

There are three main reasons why United should give Zirkzee a final chance to translate these skills his teammates see at Carrington onto the pitch at Old Trafford next season – let’s dive in.

At his best, a version fans are yet to witness, Zirkzee is a false nine: a centre-forward who likes to drop deep, helping knit play with the skillset Mbeumo describes. More facilitator than finisher. But this puts him in direct contrast to United’s other No.9, Benjamin Sesko .

The 22-year-old Slovenian is an old-school striker, primarily concerned with providing the decisive final touch to attacks, rather than initiating them in earlier phases. Signed for £74m from RB Leipzig last summer, United view Sesko as their frontman, for now and the future – with full expectation he will kick on even further next season after a promising debut campaign.

While there is a view that your back-up should possess a similar profile to your first-choice, in order to provide consistency in their stead, variety is the spice of life in the forward line. If Sesko is leading the line for 70 minutes and United have been unable to unlock a defence, bringing on a different type of striker can be more likely to find a breakthrough.

Zirkzee’s ability to play more like a No.10 means he can also play alongside Sesko, rather than simply in place of him, strengthening their case as complementary pieces on the same chessboard.

Furthermore, the Premier League has become increasingly dominated by set-pieces and crosses, with the ability to overwhelm the opposition box with an aerial bombardment a key tactic behind Arsenal’s title charge this season.

Sesko stands 6’5 and is capable of an almost unprecedented leap that few centre-backs can compete with. Zirkzee is an inch ‘shorter’ at 6’4, though he is yet to utilise his mountainous frame to the full extent he should.

If Carrick, or whoever is at the helm come the summer, can help him to impose himself physically, to become a flying Dutchman instead of a gentle giant, a partnership with Sesko offers a tantalising prospect late in games to hunt for a goal through more direct means.

Another crucial factor which can help unlock Zirkzee’s potential is greater appreciation for the way in which different profiles complement, or inhibit, members of the same forward line. A potent attack is a symbiotic relationship which requires each member to fulfil a particular function to serve the collective.

A perfect illustration of this is Roberto Firmino’s pivotal role as a centre-forward in Jurgen Klopp’s (annoyingly) imperious Liverpool side. But the Brazilian, more a ten than a nine, was only as effective as he was because of the two ‘wingers’ stationed either side of him, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. Neither African superstar is a traditional wide man, however, instead preferring to cut inside on their stronger foot, almost like ‘false elevens’.

While Zirkzee would do well to finish with a career half as illustrious as Firmino, the logic remains the same: he needs runners either side of him looking to penetrate the backline, while he occupies the half-space between the centre-backs and midfield.

Mbeumo fits the bill ideally, having previously been described as a ‘mini Salah’ while scoring goals for fun from the right wing at the Gtech Community Stadium. On the opposite flank, Matheus Cunha can also provide a threat in behind, though the Brazil international is happiest when picking the ball up in transition in the same areas Zirkzee wants to play in.

Conversely, the two other options United have used out wide this season – Amad and Patrick Dorgu – both hug the touchline. In a slightly reductive sense, a pairing of Cunha and Mbeumo suits a playmaker up top like Zirkzee, while Amad and Dorgu offer a better combination for Sesko’s bulldozing style through constant balls whipped into the box.

For Zirkzee to succeed as United’s frontman, he must be armed with last summer’s big-money signings to find his shooting boots; or, more accurately, help * the gun for Cunha and Mbeumo to continue applying their lethal touch in the final third.

The final, and arguably most convincing, reason to roll the dice with Zirkzee for another season is basically nothing to do with the Schiedam native. Rather, the club’s chips should be bet elsewhere on the pitch.

A new No.2 to back up Senne Lammens will be needed, as neither Altay Bayindir nor Andre Onana have any business being United players next season. Another left-back to support Luke Shaw may be needed, while the club continue to be linked with central defenders, though Harry Maguire’s contract renewal may stave off this need. A new left-winger, one more suited to playing high and wide than Cunha, is also on the cards, with RB Leipzig speedster Yan Diomande and Everton trickster Iliman Ndiaye two standout options.

But these all pale in comparison to the desperate need for new midfielders.

An overhaul of the stalling engine room is United’s most urgent priority this summer. Casemiro , reborn under the tutelage of Carrick in a more familiar 4-2-3-1 system, will depart in May as INEOS ruled against triggering an automatic twelve-month contract in the Brazilian behemoth’s contract. Similarly, the dismal performances of Manuel Ugarte , another expensive signing struggling to adapt to the Premier League, mean the 24-year-old enforcer may be forced to follow his teammate through the exit door.

It is essential that United fill this void with at least two best-in-class recruits to upgrade the midfield. Elliot Anderson is the primary target, while Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Sandro Tonali also feature highly on the wish list as INEOS apply the Premier League-proven approach which helped transform the misfiring attack last year.

All four options will cost up to, or in excess of, £100m, however, while other blockbuster targets on the continent, such as Real Madrid’s dynamic duo of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, will cost a pretty penny too. But every part of the war chest should be invested in the middle of the park before any other areas are addressed.

From this perspective, a back-up centre-forward to Sesko is low down the list of priorities for the Red Devils. In an ideal world, a more reliable goal scorer would arrive in Zirkzee’s place. Rome was not built in a day, however, and both Cunha and Mbeumo are capable of playing through the middle ahead of the Dutchman if he continues to struggle next season.

But a popular member of the squad, who is seemingly happy to stay and fight for his place without dramatic outbursts over a lack of game time, on reasonable wages, and who complements the other senior forwards in the squad, is a reasonable short-term measure; a plaster before the finances are replenished to pay for a permanent fix.

The Peoples Person is not naïve; Zirkzee has done little to justify any lingering faith he will rescue his situation at Old Trafford. There are sufficient reasons, however, from both the player and the club’s perspective, to delay a final decision on his future until next summer.

The need for investment elsewhere is the strongest argument, but the optimist will look towards a potential connection with Mbeumo or an imposing partner for Sesko as evidence a sinking ship can be salvaged. Then they do say it’s the hope that kills.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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