'That's a red flag' - former Manchester United striker launches into bizarre Joshua Zirkzee rant

Joshua Zirkzee cost £36.5m but has already been heavily criticised by a former Man United player

Joshua Zirkzee has yet to kick a ball for Manchester United after his switch from Bologna but his move has already been questioned by a former Reds striker.

The Netherlands international put pen to paper on a five-year contract at United in a £36.5m move as he became Erik ten Hag's first signing of the summer. The forward sprung to prominence after a successful season in Serie A that saw him net 11 league goals.

That form wasn't enough to earn him a place in the initial 26-man Holland squad named by Ronald Koeman for Euro 2024, but after injuries, Zirkzee was eventually called up for the tournament. However, he had to settle for a place among the substitutes, with only a couple of fleeting appearances from the bench.

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Zirkzee was even behind former United loanee Wout Weghorst in the pecking order, and that has prompted some pundits to question whether he has the credentials to succeed in the Premier League. Chief among the critics is former frontman Dwight Yorke, who claims Zirkzee's transfer raises a 'red flag'.

Yorke was vocal in his unhappiness that United were targeting Zirkzee before he actually signed, calling the links to the player 'baffling'. Now he has doubled down on his criticism, even saying that United's other summer signing, Leny Yoro, may struggle with the Premier League.

"Manchester United are bringing in Leny Yoro and asking an 18-year-old to come in at such a difficult time and asking them to help raise your own level," Yorke said. "The Premier League is the toughest place to sort of apply your trade for the first time.

"Then you've got Joshua Zirkzee, who seems to have a decent season with Bologna and could make an impact, but you have to ask why he is not a starter for Holland.

"That’s a red flag for me when you come in at United for that sort of fee. In recent years the club have brought in middle-of-the-road players rather than the creme de la creme players that they should be getting.

"United should be signing the very best players in Holland and the best players in whatever national team they are playing for. United are not in the position to do that anymore and it worries me.

"I'm not saying the kid is not a good player. I'm not saying that he definitely can’t go and light up the Premier League, but why is he not playing in the Holland first team?

"Is he great for Bologna but he's not good for the Holland national team? Does that mean he can't be that great for United? But we can only judge him on that at the end of the season."

Zirkzee has yet to join up with United, having been given extra time off after the Euros.