Everton made an eleventh-hour loan offer for Joshua Zirkzee on deadline day, turning to the Manchester United striker after their move for Folarin Balogun collapsed. It is a late twist that could shape both clubs' plans for the remainder of the season.
Zirkzee, the 24-year-old signed by Manchester United from Bologna for £36.5 million in summer 2024, has struggled for playing time at Old Trafford this season. He was an unused substitute in the opening two league fixtures against Hull City and Ipswich Town, which has only added to the sense that his situation needs resolving quickly.
Why Everton moved for Zirkzee
The timing of Everton's approach makes sense. Once the Balogun deal fell through after the Arsenal striker reportedly failed a medical, the club needed a new option and moved fast for Zirkzee. In a tight transfer window, that kind of response is often dictated by availability as much as long-term planning.
For Everton, the appeal is obvious. Zirkzee has experience in Italy and England, and he is a forward who has already shown he can score goals, with five goals in nine games and 24+ appearances across the broader stretch of his recent career. That profile would offer a different attacking option if the move were to progress.
What it means for Manchester United
Manchester United have also been working on their own forward plans, with the club exploring the possibility of bringing in another attacker to provide cover and competition for Benjamin Sesko. But their inability to offload Zirkzee has stalled those plans, which gives this loan bid extra significance.
There has already been outside interest in Zirkzee this summer. He was heavily linked with a return to Italy, with Juventus and Fiorentina showing interest, and a potential move to Fiorentina reportedly fell through after he rejected it. That backdrop explains why Everton's late offer arrived at a point when his future was still unresolved.
The final hours always change the picture
Deadline day often forces clubs into quick decisions, and this is a good example of that. Everton lost one target and immediately moved to another, while Manchester United now have to weigh up whether keeping Zirkzee affects their own squad balance more than it helps it.
What happens next will depend on whether the loan offer leads anywhere in the final hours of the transfer window. But even at this stage, Zirkzee Everton has become one of the more important late-window stories for both clubs.
