Manchester United Eye Mandzukic Heir as Zirkzee Future Uncertain
Manchester United went into this window insisting midfield came first. They have delivered on that: Carlos Baleba from Brighton, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea – three very different profiles, one clear message. The middle of the pitch has been restocked.
Karl Darlow has arrived as back‑up goalkeeper on a free. Tynan Thompson has been prised from Tottenham in a deal worth around £8m, a nod to the club’s long-term planning. On paper, the heavy lifting looked done.
But the market rarely allows neat endings. It twists. It tempts. And at Old Trafford, the whole attacking picture now hinges on one name: Joshua Zirkzee.
Zirkzee domino puts Matanovic in play
INEOS have been consistent on one point: they will only move for a new No 9 if Zirkzee leaves. That stance has held even as rumours swirl about late business for a left-back, a left‑winger and a striker.
Ben Jacobs, speaking to Betway Insider, framed the internal debate sharply. A left-back is viewed as the priority, he said, but United are “alert” to a centre-forward if Zirkzee departs, with interest in the Dutchman from both the Premier League and Serie A. If they cannot bring in a replacement, they retain the option to simply block any exit.
That is the tightrope.
On one side, Fiorentina. With Como closing in on Moise Kean before the deadline, the Florence club have moved into what Fabrizio Romano describes as ‘advanced talks’ to sign Zirkzee from United. The Serie A side see an opportunity and are pushing.
On the other side, the contingency plan. Gazzetta dello Sport’s Thursday print edition, relayed by Sport Witness, links Fiorentina with another striker: Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic. The report calls a deal “difficult but not impossible” for the Italian club.
The problem for Fiorentina? They are not alone.
Manchester United and Tottenham have both entered the frame for Matanovic, who hit 11 Bundesliga goals last season and is already being talked about in Croatia as the “heir to Mario Mandzukic”. That tag matters. It hints at a rugged, penalty-box presence, the kind of centre-forward profile United simply do not have in abundance.
The pressure around Zirkzee’s future has opened a lane. With Omar Marmoush expected to head to Tottenham and Fiorentina going hard for Zirkzee, United could suddenly find themselves with a clearer run at Matanovic than it first appeared. If their current No 9 goes, the next one may already be in their sights.
Left-back: buy now or wait for Lewis Hall?
While the striker situation threatens to erupt in the final days, the left flank remains a slower burn. Jacobs has outlined the fault lines of United’s thinking at left-back with unusual clarity.
Alejandro Balde has been offered around, with Barcelona understood to be willing to sanction an exit at around €45m. That is a serious fee for a club still trying to keep its powder dry for future windows.
United’s preference, according to Jacobs, would be a loan with an option to buy rather than a straight permanent deal. The reason is strategic: 2027. That is the year ring‑fenced in their planning for a full-scale move on their top long-term target, Lewis Hall.
Hall, currently not thought to be available this late in the window, sits at the heart of the dilemma. Do United commit significant funds now on a permanent left-back and potentially close the door on Hall? Or do they bring in a stopgap – someone on loan, someone short-term – and keep the path clear to go all‑in on Hall next year?
Balde fits the first category. A loan with an option would drag him closer to the second. United are testing how much flexibility Barcelona truly have.
Nothing, at this stage, has advanced. Other names have been floated in their direction: Jorge Salinas and David Raum have both been offered as alternative left-back options. They sit on the list, waiting, as United weigh whether to act now or hold their nerve.
A window balanced on fine margins
So the picture is this: midfield rebuilt, depth added in goal, a young defender secured, and yet the entire mood around United’s window could still swing on two positions.
If Fiorentina get Zirkzee over the line, the pressure on United to move for a striker will spike in hours, not days. That could drag Matanovic from promising target to urgent necessity, especially with Tottenham also circling.
At left-back, one decision will define the next three years: take the plunge on a big-name solution like Balde, or ride out another season with a patchwork and keep the runway clear for Lewis Hall.
The clock is ticking. United have options, leverage and a plan. What they choose now will say as much about their long-term vision under INEOS as any signing they actually make.
