Man Utd transfer news: Ruben Amorim faces striker dilemma as 'dream candidate' emerges

 Manchester United attacker Joshua Zirkzee could soon find his way out of Old Trafford, with the Netherlands star emerging as a “dream target” for a European giant.

According to Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV would love to bring that attacker to the Eredivisie.

A deal is anything but easy, though. The Dutch champions are seeking a replacement for Alassane Plea, who is sidelined until well into 2026 due to a serious knee injury.

Ricardo Pepi is the only striker available to PSV currently, and this has prompted them to look at their options.

Zirkzee is the “dream candidate”, the newspaper states.

It’s unclear if PSV have already been in touch with Manchester United over the possible mechanics of a deal, but the Eindhoven source says it’s a matter of time before action is taken.

"It's clear that it will happen and that a transfer is likely to be extremely complicated," it says.

"Even if Manchester United were to decide to temporarily release Zirkzee to another club, PSV would likely struggle to make that happen financially."

The former Bologna player is not necessarily a player that Man Utd are seeking to offload. Head coach Ruben Amorim has prioritised getting Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho off his books from the forward area, with Zirkzee also ahead of Rasmus Hojlund in the race to be Benjamin Sesko’s backup.

United will have to decide if they gamble upon losing Zirkzee in a move that would likely see the unsettled Hojlund remain in Amorim's squad.

How PSV are planning to tempt Zirkzee

Zirkzee is attracting interest from other clubs, including Napoli. While United don’t want to sell him, the situation could change before Deadline Day.

PSV, meanwhile, are hoping to lure the striker with the promise of regular football and the prospect of playing in the Champions League.

"In Eindhoven, it's clear that PSV are taking their time to make the right choice," writes the paper. "The club is exploring several options and hopes that one of their top candidates will prove viable. In Zirkzee's case, that would absolutely be the case, but PSV certainly has a lot to offer him in the run-up to next year's World Cup."

Manchester United paid Bologna €42.5 million in 2024 for Zirkzee, with the attacker managing just seven goals in 49 games last season. Despite this, he still has an estimated transfer value of €38.3 million. This makes the striker simply too expensive for PSV but a loan could potentially offer a solution for all parties.