The final transfer window before a World Cup usually brings about plenty of activity, and West Ham United could be the ones to benefit from Joshua Zirkzee’s lack of game time at Manchester United.
Because, while Jarrod Bowen, Malick Diouf, Lucas Paqueta and co are playing and performing regularly enough to make themselves indispensable for their home nations ahead of 2026’s Festival of Football, the same cannot be said of Manchester United’s £35 million benchwarmer.
Even Freddie Potts has played more Premier League minutes this season than Joshua Zirkzee.
While Zirkzee had only the lumbering presence of Rasmus Hojlund to contend with last term, the rising talent of Benjamin Sesko and the versatile Matheus Cunha have pushed him down Ruben Amorim’s pecking order.
So much so that, according to West Ham United insider ‘ExWHUemployee’, Zirkzee could swap Old Trafford for the London Stadium during the January transfer window in an attempt to keep his World Cup dream alive [West Ham Way podcast].
Comments made by Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman this week, after leaving him out for October’s double header, will surely only strengthen Zirkzee’s desire for some new scenery.
Ronald Koeman may have pushed Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee towards West Ham
Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey spoke to TBR Football on Friday about the situation. He confirms that Zirkzee has already spoken to the Man United bosses, in the knowledge that he will be denied a seat on Koeman’s plane as things stand.
Speaking of Koeman, the former Everton, Southampton and Barcelona coach confirmed before the 4-0 thrashing of Malta that neither Zirkzee nor Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey are currently part of his plans.
It will stay that way too, unless something changes
“I don’t think they’re playing at all,” he said in quotes reported by Voetbal Primeur. “If they eventually play more, they’ll remain options. But we’re also looking beyond that.”
Brobbey, like Man United’s seldom-seen number eleven, has been restricted to three substitute appearances in 2025/26.
Sunderland signed Brobbey in a deal worth £17 million on deadline day, seven months after Ajax rejected a ‘ridiculous’ bid from West Ham.
The next time the January window rolls around, both Zirkzee and the Red Devils are likely to at least consider any offers put forward by the London Stadium outfit.
“I am told that Zirkzee has had conversations with United and they are aware of his situation,” Bailey says. “He wants to go to the World Cup finals, but he won’t given the current status quo.
“That means a move, and that will be worked out before January.”
Zirkzee could be the perfect foil for Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville
Wout Weghorst led the line for the Netherlands against Malta, while their all-time record goalscorer Memphis Depay added a 53rd to his collection off the bench. Zirkzee is stuck behind Aston Villa speedster Donyell Malen too. AZ Alkmaar youngster Mexx Meerdink has forced his way into Koeman’s plans too.
Though certainly not the most prolific of centre-forwards, a Joshua Zirkzee, Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville frontline is an exciting thought to say the least.
Once described as the ‘best in the world’ when it comes to dropping deep, linking the play, and allowing speedy wide players to run into the space he vacates, the role Zirkzee played alongside Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo when Man United thrashed Everton 4-0 last December should have Bowen and Summerville drooling.
Real Madrid’s Endrick and Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood on the radar
Bailey has told Hammers News that Real Madrid starlet Endrick is an option to keep an eye on too. Yet to feature under Xabi Alonso at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 19-year-old Brazilian is another who may look for a loan move in order to boost his World Cup prospects.
“West Ham have tried to sign Endrick on more than one occasion,” Bailey reveals. “They were at the head of the queue in January [2025] for instance, had he moved on loan. They even asked when he originally arrived in Madrid, in case he was allowed to go.
“Endrick, I am told, was open to the possibility had he left on loan, but it was always about creating his chance at Madrid.
“The fact it still hasn’t worked out, then, I am told West Ham still would like to take him. And if he is allowed out, West Ham honestly can’t be discounted.”
Chris Wood could leave Nottingham Forest in January too, albeit for very different reasons. Nuno Espirito Santo coaxed a 20-goal season out of Wood last term, and is watching developments at his old employers very closely indeed.
