Michael Carrick issues Manchester United transfer window verdict as Joshua Zirkzee plan revealed | OneFootball

Dutch striker received transfer offers before deadline but will remain at Old Trafford

United’s Dutch striker was one of several players said to have been made available for transfer by the club come the end of last season, during which he scored twice in 24 Premier League appearances.

Everton came in with a Deadline Day loan bid for the player as they scrambled to find a striker after Folarin Balogun failed his medical. United rejected the proposal, though, and Zirkzee will remain in situ until January at least.

He has played a bit-part role in the early days of the Premier League campaign, with Matheus Cunha preferred as a centre-forward, while Benjamin Sesko’s newfound fitness will further reduce his playing time.

Fighting for his place: Joshua Zirkzee

"For sure Josh is important,” he told assembled reporters on Friday. “For the team, for the squad the depth.

“Josh is happy here and I have a really good relationship with Josh. He wants to play more than he has but that is good healthy competition.

“We have a lot of games coming up, we have a shorter period between games, Josh can do some really top things, I have seen it myself.”

It remains to be seen where Zirkzee will be utilised.

It was a broadly underwhelming window for United, who did well to overhaul the midfield but failed to address a defence lacking depth and quality.

Despite that, Carrick insisted he was “delighted” with the state of United’s squad: “We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group, we had last season and we have definitely added to that, a lot of good work in that respect and the situation is what it is in terms of finances and what we can work with.

“Certainly, the players we have brought into the group absolutely delighted with, think we have done some really good business.

“You can always look at it and think there are other things we could have done or might have done, but some things become available.

“Largely, I think we are in a good place with the squad, we have players that are flexible throughout the team can play in different positions as and when needed.”