Manchester United consider Joshua Zirkzee sale to fund Antoine Semenyo move

Manchester United are weighing up offloading Joshua Zirkzee in January to help finance a move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.

Fabrizio Romano reports that any fee raised from Zirkzee could be redirected straight into triggering Semenyo’s 65 million pound release clause, which expires around 10 January.​

United would need either a permanent sale or a loan with obligation to buy for the Dutch striker, while Roma, considered frontrunners, currently prefer a loan with an option to buy rather than a guaranteed purchase. The clock is ticking, with all interested clubs under pressure to act quickly before the clause lapses.​

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport previously reported that Roma sporting director Frederic Massara and chief football operating officer Maurizio Lombardo travelled to London for talks over a potential move for the Manchester United striker, holding parallel negotiations with both United and Zirkzee’s representatives over a structure involving a mandatory summer transfer with staggered payments.

Zirkzee is understood to be keen on regular playing time and does not want to wait until the final days of the January window for clarity on his future, adding another layer of urgency to the discussions as all parties look for a solution that suits their sporting and financial needs