Fabio Capello issues clear Joshua Zirkzee transfer directive to AC Milan | OneFootball

Former England boss Fabio Capello has laid out a transfer demand to AC Milan regarding a summer swoop for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee.

Out of favour

Although Zirkzee ended last season strongly, he has struggled this campaign, leaving his long-term future at the club very much in doubt heading into the summer transfer window.

He found minutes extremely hard to come by under now-sacked head coach Ruben Amorim, and this trend has continued since Michael Carrick was named as the Portuguese’s replacement at the start of the year.

Zirkzee has made 20 Premier League appearances so far, contributing two goals and one assist. He has been named in the starting XI just four times. The Dutchman has managed just 33 minutes of football in the games that Carrick has taken charge of.

The strongest interest in Zirkzee appears to be coming from Italy, where he made his name while at Bologna. A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Juventus are eyeing the 24-year-old.

AC Milan are also in the picture, and rumours that United are targeting Rafael Leao have fuelled suggestions that a swap deal could be a real possibility.

Capello spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport and urged Milan to “immediately” take the deal, arguing that Zirkzee would be more of a natural fit under Massimiliano Allegri compared to Leao.

Capello’s Zirkzee plea

Capello told the newspaper, “If I were Milan, I’d make the swap immediately. I’d see the Dutchman as a much better fit in Max’s 3-5-2.”

“Zirkzee is someone who gets the team playing and is very good at communicating with his teammates.”

The 79-year-old added, “For me, the Zirkzee-Pulisic partnership would be brilliant.”

“If Sorloth and either Gimenez or Nkunku were alternatives, one could say the attack is in good shape.”

Zirkzee and United are next in action on Sunday when they host Liverpool. United need just two points from their remaining fixtures to mathematically secure Champions League football.

Feature image Molly Darlington via Getty Images

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