Zirkzee offered Man Utd escape route after failing to impress Ruben Amorim

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has reportedly been offered an escape route from Old Trafford by Juventus – just months after joining the club – with new boss Ruben Amorim reportedly “not convinced” by the Dutch star.

The 23-year-old joined United from Bologna in the summer for around £37million but has scored just once in 16 appearances and there are doubts over whether he would be a good fit for the club.

He has seen his playing time diminish in the last few games under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has only used him as a substitute, with his previous start in the Premier League culminating in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham in September.

Despite having only just put pen to paper on a five-year contract, Zirkzee could already be on his way, with Calciomercato reporting that Juventus are considering a move for the player in January.

A move to Turin would reunite him with Thiago Motta, who was his manager at Bologna last season, the man who got the best out of him as he scored 12 times in 37 games.

The report says Motta is looking for a backup striker for Dusan Vlahovic, with Arkadiusz Milik's future uncertain and Nico Gonzalez prone to injuries.

The same outlet previously claimed that new boss Amorim was not fully convinced by Zirkzee – after initial reports that Erik ten Hag did not want to sign him.

Amorim is believed to be planning his own list of strikers after being linked with fellow former Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres, who has taken the football world by storm after scoring 23 goals in 18 games already this season.

The report adds that United would only be willing to loan Zirkzee out after the chiefs spent a large sum on him – and still see him as a future success.

Juventus would like to have Zirkzee on loan but could ask for a commitment to ensure the club can sign him next summer. Talks about a new contract for Vlahovic are still not coming to fruition.

Zirkzee started his career at Bayern Munich before having loan spells for Parma and Anderlecht, eventually joining Bologna on a permanent deal in 2022. He scored fourteen goals in all competitions for Serie A over two seasons before joining United.