Major questions raised over Manchester United recruiting star 'not fit for Premier League'
Questions have been raised over why Manchester United signed Joshua Zirkzee, with claims he is not cut out for the Premier League.
United shelled out £36.5m to sign the Dutch striker in the summer, paying more than his release clause at former club Bologna to make him the first signing of the INEOS era.
He enjoyed a quick start in life in England, score a late goal on his Premier League debut to secure an opening day victory over Fulham.
And while it may still be too early to judge the 23-year-old too harshly, there is a growing feeling that it was a false dawn given his performances since then, failing to find the net again.
He provided crucial assistance in the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in the Europa Leaguebut apart from his pass to goalscorer Christian Eriksen, he looked off the pace as United's starting striker.
Zirkzee got the nod to lead the line Rasmus Hojlund against the Turkish giants, but he didn't seem to be on the same wavelength as Mark Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on either side of him.
There was even a moment in the match where Garnacho looked visibly frustrated after Zirkzee took too long to pass the ball to him, missing the opportunity to hit José Mourinho's side on the counterattack.
The Dutchman was replaced early in the second half by Hojlund, and his lack of form has even led to rumors of a possible exit in the January transfer market.
And talkSPORT chief football correspondent Alex Crook questioned why the Red Devils signed the young ace, particularly after a conversation he had with an executive from a rival Premier League team.
“It seems that Manchester United have recruited more poorly,” Crook said in the latest episode of talkSPORT's Inside Devils YouTube Show.
“I remember speaking to a senior executive at a Premier League club that was much lower down the food chain when there was a merry-go-round of strikers: Dominic Solanke, Ivan Toney being mentioned as players who could join elite clubs.
“And he told me Joshua Zirkzee It's not really suitable for the Premier League.
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“If someone at a club in the bottom half of the Premier League can figure that out, why are Manchester United putting their faith in this guy?
“It seems a bit cumbersome. “Rasmus Hojlund is still regaining his full fitness and confidence, and looked much more effective upfield than Zirkzee when he came off the bench.”
Crook admitted, however, that United have been guilty of putting too much pressure on their recent young signings too soon after making the big move to Old Trafford.
“The other problem we have, and the same can be said for Hojlund, is what United have done in the last two seasons: they have overused players before they were ready,” he added.
“It took Hojlund a long time to get up to speed in the Premier League last season, but it is almost desperate to spend this money on a player and need instant dividends.
“Real clubs don't do it like that, do they?”
Manchester correspondent Laurie Whitwell also offered her take on Zirkzee from the Inside Devils show, saying the former Bayern Munich Ace does not currently have the physical attributes necessary to succeed in the English top flight.
“Maybe it feels like a physical thing,” he said.
“His last season was in Italy and the speed of the league there is not as fast as the Premier League, which has caught on his heels several times in league games this season.
“Which is strange, because he started well and that's what he did well against Fulham to get his first goal: getting into the box at the right time to get to the end.
“But it just feels like he doesn't have that spark, that initial acceleration to get to these positions.
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“United looked at Benjamin Sesko in the summer and couldn't get him so they went for Zirkzee and the release clause played a part in that.
“But you have to wonder how much they really expect from this guy. “He is an alternative to Hojlund, but at the moment it looks like it will take time for him to reach the level that United need.”
