Roma’s reported pursuit of Giacomo Raspadori and the sudden change of management at Manchester United have increased the chances Joshua Zirkzee stays at Old Trafford this month. The 24-year-old forward struggled for game time in the first half of the season and had been widely tipped to move to find the consistent minutes required to push for a place in the Netherlands squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Roma director Ricky Massara admitted the club’s interest in Zirkzee cooled after United’s managerial change. “[Zirkzee] is a Manchester United  centre forward liked by many clubs, not just us,” Massara told Sky Sport Italia earlier this week. “Naturally, the situation is different after this change of management, there are no contacts in progress, but I wouldn’t focus on individual names.” He added: “It’s true there are negotiations in progress with both Atlético Madrid and Raspadori.”

Sky Sport Italia subsequently reported Roma have quickly reached agreement with Atlético to sign Raspadori on loan with an option to buy. The move requires the player’s acceptance, and any pursuit of Zirkzee would be abandoned if the Raspadori deal proceeds.

Zirkzee’s involvement for United has risen since the November international break, after barely featuring in the first three months of the season. He was called upon by Darren Fletcher in the first game after Amorim’s sudden departure and has played some part in each of the last 10 Premier League fixtures, registering direct goal involvements in two of the last three. He is still typically used from the bench.

Another factor working against an immediate exit is the expectation no new signings will be made in January. Amorim made the club’s stance clear in December and his departure has not altered that position: “It’s going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution. We are short. Even with the full squad, we are short for something that can happen.”

United were believed to have been keen on Antoine Semenyo because of his £65 million release clause, but after the goalscoring winger chose Manchester City the Red Devils withdrew and decided against spending on an alternative. Funds are intended to be held for the summer window, when a central midfielder is the priority target.

Manchester United left Turf Moor with a draw after a 2-2 result against Burnley, a game in which they dominated possession but failed to turn control into three points. The match swung wildly: an Ayden Heaven own goal put Burnley ahead at half-time, Benjamin Šeško struck twice after the interval to put United in front, and substitute Jaidon Anthony levelled to deny the visitors victory.

United began well and the away support were audible as they sang Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s name amid talk of a possible interim return. Early openings arrived but were not taken, and Burnley capitalised against the run of play when Bashir Humphries’ cross took a deflection off Heaven and looped over Senne Lammens.

After half-time Šeško changed the game. Fernandes slipped him in for an instinctive finish six minutes after the restart, and a second followed from Patrick Dorgu’s precise cross, Šeško guiding the volley into the net. United looked to have done enough, but Lisandro Martínez failed to close down Jaidon Anthony, who turned and fired the home side’s first shot on target into the corner.

Player contributions were mixed. Bruno Fernandes returned to the starting XI and set up the first Šeško goal before being substituted at 61 minutes. Patrick Dorgu impressed on the left, and Šeško converted two instinctive finishes to double his season tally. Ayden Heaven was unfortunate to be credited with the own goal and had a glaring chance to make amends later.

Substitutes included Mason Mount (61’), Leny Yoro (61’), Joshua Zirkzee (74’), Kobbie Mainoo (74’) and Shea Lacey (84’), with Lacey coming close to a late breakthrough. Unused subs were Altay Bayındır, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Jack Fletcher.

Key match statistics underlined United’s control: possession 68% to 32%, expected goals 0.85 to 0.06, total shots 12 to 2 and shots on target 6 to 0. In the end United will view this as two points lost after a performance that produced control but not the result.

Darren Fletcher has reverted Manchester United to a 4-2-3-1 shape after taking charge on a temporary basis. The change mirrors the system Fletcher has used all season in his main role as U18s manager and represents a clear departure from the setup deployed under Ruben Amorim.

Amorim had argued shortly before leaving that he could not alter his formation amid external pressure because it would have undermined his position. He did make a switch for Boxing Day’s 1–0 victory over Newcastle United but returned to a 3-4-2-1 for the two subsequent games, both draws.

The starting XI announced for the Wednesday trip to Turf Moor suggested a conventional back four: Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw at full back, with Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martínez at centre back. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte were named as the midfield partnership. Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu were selected on the wings, with Bruno Fernandes in the No. 10 slot behind Benjamin Šeško.

For much of this season, Amorim had overlooked Ugarte and routinely selected Fernandes as a central midfielder alongside Casemiro. That approach moved Fernandes deeper and reduced his presence higher up the pitch, placing additional responsibilities on the captain.

Fletcher’s decision restores Fernandes to a more advanced role after the player returned to fitness following a rare injury absence that saw him miss each of Amorim’s final three games. Equally notable is the immediate recall of Ugarte to the starting lineup, a selection that signals a shift back towards a double pivot in midfield.

Expectation that Fletcher would make tactical changes in his caretaker role has been met with decisive action. Re-adopting a familiar 4-2-3-1 and balancing the midfield with Casemiro and Ugarte reflects both Fletcher’s recent work with the academy and an attempt to free Fernandes to operate as the team’s primary creator.