Zirkzee out, Beto in: United's deadline-day scramble

The Zirkzee chapter, closed

United had been working to send Zirkzee to Fiorentina on loan, a move that would have cleared wages and given the Dutch striker a fresh start after a difficult first season at Old Trafford. The problem: Zirkzee rejected it. A player who struggled to nail down a role under Ruben Amorim apparently decided that Serie A on loan was not the answer, and the deal collapsed.

It is a notable footnote. Zirkzee arrived from Bologna in the summer of 2024 with genuine excitement around him, only to find himself peripheral as the season wore on. Turning down Fiorentina keeps him at United for now, but it is hard to see how his situation improves with another striker arriving on the same day he said no.

Enter Beto

United did not sit on it. Romano's 'here we go' on Beto confirms the Everton striker is heading to Old Trafford for a reported €17m, according to Romano's reporting via Football365. The Portuguese forward spent two seasons at Goodison Park after joining from Udinese, and while Everton's relegation battle consumed much of the context around him, he is a physical presence up front who offers something different in the box.

At €17m, United get a physical striker option without breaking the bank. The Zirkzee route closed, and Beto was the answer they landed on before midnight.

Deadline day, distilled

The full structure of the Beto deal, whether loan, permanent or with options, has not been confirmed in Romano's initial report, and the story is still developing. What is confirmed: Zirkzee stays, Beto arrives, and United's attacking options look meaningfully different by the time the window shuts than they did at breakfast.

Zirkzee turned down a loan on deadline day and watched his club sign his direct competition before midnight.