Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has dropped Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee from the matchday squad to face Hungary.
Koeman has decided not to include the 23-year-old in his squad for Saturday’s clash with Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam.
The manager explained during his pre-match press conference on Friday that two players from the 25-man squad would be eliminated as only 23 are permitted for selection.
It has since been revealed that Zirkzee is one of the fateful omissions alongside Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert, a move in connection with the player’s underwhelming form at club level.
Zirkzee joined United in the summer for a £36.5 million fee from Italian outfit Bologna – and it’s been a bumpy ride for the striker since touching down in Manchester.
He got off to the perfect start when netting a late winner on his debut against Fulham in United’s Premier League opener in August, but he hasn’t found the back of the net since.
Zirkzee has featured regularly for his national team over the last few months, even netting a goal and an assist in a UEFA Nations League game against Bosnia & Herzegovina in September.
🚨🚨 – BREAKING: Joshua Zirkzee will NOT be in the squad list for tonight’s game, Ronald Koeman is only allowed to have 23 players on the list. [@ESPNnl] pic.twitter.com/fJmTidAEgk
— TheEuropeanLad (@TheEuropeanLad) November 16, 2024
Joshua Zirkzee linked with January move as Juventus show interest
Rumours are continuing to circulate surrounding a potential January move to Juventus for Zirkzee, who has struggled to adapt to life in England.
He’s on a three-month goal drought for his club and seems to have lost his starting spot up front to Rasmus Hojlund.
Zirkzee was evidently an Erik ten Hag signing – and now the latter is gone, it remains to be seen whether new manager Ruben Amorim has any interest in keeping the player at United.
Some reports have also suggested that the Red Devils are willing to offer Zirkzee plus cash to Sporting Lisbon for star striker Viktor Gyokeres next summer, one of the hottest properties in Europe.
According to the best football betting sites, Sporting are odds-on to keep Gyokeres through the January transfer window as they aim for back-to-back league titles.
