Joshua Zirkzee is open to the idea of leaving Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich this summer with West Ham United keen to offer the striker a fresh start in the Premier League, speaking to NOS.
After a season of regular first-team football on loan at Anderlecht, a return to the Allianz Arena bench understandably holds little appeal for the Netherlands U21 international.
It’s not as if Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is crying out for attacking reinforcements after all.
In Robert Lewandowski, scorer of a frankly ludicrous 45 goals in 37 games this season, he has arguably the greatest centre-forward in world football at his disposal after all.
And Zirkzee knows that, should he return to Bavaria upon the expiry of his loan spell at Anderlecht, a a season on the sidelines beckons. A season sharing a bench with Marc Roca and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting.
That’s why, amid reports of a £10 million move to West Ham United, via Jeunes Footeaux, the one-time Everton target is considering his future ahead of the summer transfer window.
“We will only talk again (with Bayern) after the season,” says Zirkzee, who’s scored 15 goals and set up nine more under former Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht.
“I take my minutes here and that was my goal before (joining).
“I don’t think it makes much sense to go back to Bayern after a season in which I’ve played a lot – I just want to play. And, after this season, I will see where that is best and then I will also talk to Bayern.”
Zirkzee admitted a few months ago that he ‘could have gone to Everton’ all the way back in 2018. That was before he joined Bayern from Dutch giants Feyenoord.
The rangy centre-forward emerged as a target for the Toffees again in January 2021. Everton bid £9 million before Zirkzee embarked on an ill-fated loan spell at Parma instead.
