"I thought it was an improvement," Wim Kieft said when discussing Joshua Zirkzee, and that small show of faith lands at the same time as the Dutch forward's club situation looks increasingly thin. AC Milan are again looking at a January loan move, with an option to buy part of the discussion, while Manchester United have given him only four appearances this season and 65 minutes in total.

Milan's renewed interest

The numbers from this season are hard to ignore. Zirkzee has played 70 minutes across his last five matches, and his involvement has barely moved beyond the fringe. He made 26 appearances last season, but still finished with fewer than 700 minutes and only three goal contributions. Since joining United in 2024, he has 79 appearances and 13 goals involved in total.

That is why Milan have come back around to him. The Italian club want another striker option, and their current setup has been light. Goncalo Ramos has been essentially the only No.9 to play for Milan this season, while Francesco Camarda has managed only eight minutes. Milan have also scored 10 Serie A goals, so the need for another attacking body is plain enough.

The one wrinkle is the exact minutes figure. One source puts Zirkzee on 70 minutes across all competitions, while the verified season figure used here is 65. Either way, the point is the same: he is not being used like a regular starter, and that is what keeps a January move alive.

Milan sit fifth in Serie A after five games, and a short-term loan makes more sense than a more expensive gamble for a side that still needs attacking cover. If the market stays open in January, this is one to watch.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →