Not just Zirkzee: The new Van de Beek is heading for Man Utd’s bomb squad

Manchester United have little left to play for heading into the final stretch, and it showed on Saturday afternoon, with Michael Carrick‘s men playing out a rather drab goalless draw away at the Stadium of Light.

The fact that United’s first shot on target didn’t come until stoppage time said it all, in truth, with a much-changed side finding it tough going up against a physical Sunderland outfit.

Without the likes of Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko, the team which looked rampant against Liverpool simply didn’t come to the party, with far too many fringe players failing to take their chance.

Among those to underwhelm, yet again, was Joshua Zirkzee, with the struggling striker seemingly heading for an inevitable exit this summer.

Zirkzee’s run out of chances in a United shirt

Afforded a first start under Carrick, and a first start in general since late December, signs of rust would be understandable, with Zirkzee restricted to mere late cameos in 2026.

That said, this was no different to what United supporters have come to expect from the Dutchman, with the 24-year-old looking so at odds with the speed and power of the Premier League.

Indeed, the contrast between himself and compatriot Brian Brobbey at the opposite end was stark. Whereas the Sunderland man was a handful all game, Zirkzee couldn’t have afforded the home defence an easier task, winning just four of his 12 total duels.

Still sat on just nine goals in 73 games for the Red Devils to date, Zirkzee rarely came close to adding to his tally, registering only one shot while restricted to just 25 touches – losing the ball on eight occasions.

Reports have previously suggested that CEO Omar Berrada is keen to implement a two-year rule for signings, with the end of the second season the time to assess whether a player should be moved on or not.

Sadly, Zirkzee has shown little to warrant a third act in Manchester, with similar ruthlessness needing to be shown to other members of the periphery.

Man Utd’s new Van de Beek is heading for the summer bomb squad

It’s hard to argue that United aren’t better off for their actions last summer, with Ruben Amorim exiling the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, confining them to the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

Champions League football has since been secured, with few shedding any tears over those high-profile departures, thus laying the blueprint for INEOS to follow again this time around.

Zirkzee will likely be one of the notable Erik ten Hag signings to depart, while Mason Mount should surely follow him, following another injury-hit season for the third year running.

A former Champions League winner and shining light at Chelsea, United’s number seven simply hasn’t reached those heights again at Old Trafford, restricted to mere moments rather than any sustained consistency.

Against Regis Le Bris’ side, for instance, the Englishman was solid yet unspectacular in a more withdrawn midfield role, with the visitors feeling the effects of Casemiro’s absence.

There was the odd neat touch and flick round the corner, yet on the whole, United’s £60m signing looked off the pace, losing the ball 12 times from his 57 touches, while winning only four of his 12 total duels.

Sunderland’s mobile, midfield unit pointed to the future, while Mount appears to belong to the past, now heading for Donny van de Beek territory as an expensive midfield addition who has never truly got going.

The constant debate with Van de Beek was centred over his best position, and inability to shift Bruno Fernandes from that number ten berth, with Mount arguably now in the same position. Not physical enough to be a number eight. Not creative enough to be a playmaker. Not athletic enough to be a winger.

For a brief moment, it looked like his great champion, Amorim, would spark a change of fortune, yet this has been another disrupted season, with the trip to Wearside marking his first start of 2026.

With United heading toward a 2026/27 campaign that will bring with it the challenges of increased games and the need for rotation, the likes of Zirkzee and Mount have shown again why they unfortunately can’t be relied upon.

Like with Van de Beek at Ajax, no one can doubt there is a player in there somewhere in Mount’s case, but three years on from his arrival, time and patience are beginning to run out.