AC Milan target Zirkzee loan as Amorim plots reunion with struggling United striker

AC Milan are targeting a loan move for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee in the January transfer window, with head coach Ruben Amorim reportedly eager to reunite with the forward he managed at Old Trafford, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

Milan are said to have ‘set their sights’ on Zirkzee and are hoping to structure a deal as a loan with an option to buy. The 23-year-old Dutchman was reportedly ‘very close’ to joining the San Siro club before he instead moved to United from Bologna in the summer of 2024 for £36.5 million.

Amorim was sacked as United manager in January and returned to management in the summer, taking charge of Milan, who currently sit fifth in Serie A after five games. The reported interest in Zirkzee marks one of the first significant transfer links of his tenure at the Italian club.

Zirkzee’s time at Old Trafford has failed to deliver on its early promise. The striker has made just four appearances in all competitions this season, all as a second-half substitute, and struggled to hold down a regular starting place throughout his stint at the club. A summer exit appeared likely, with Juventus and Fiorentina both said to have held talks, but no deal was completed.

Despite his limited role under current United manager Michael Carrick, Zirkzee earned a surprise call-up to the Netherlands national team following an injury to Brian Brobbey. He went on to score in the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia at the weekend, claiming his first international cap in nearly two years.

Speaking about his situation at club level, Zirkzee was candid but declined to point the finger at Carrick. “At the moment, that means I am mainly coming on as a substitute,” he said. “And in the end, I have to do something about that myself, even if it isn’t easy.”

On the unexpected international call-up, he added: “I absolutely did not expect a call-up. I’m obviously not a starter, so it did give me a good feeling that the coach had confidence in me to call me up. But absolutely not expected, no.”

With Zirkzee’s path to regular first-team football at United looking uncertain, a January move to Milan — and a reunion with the manager who previously worked with him — could suit all parties.