According to Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Serie A strugglers Parma are set to sign Bayern Munich striker Joshua Zirkzee. Everton and Parma were battling for the Dutchman but the Italian outfit has beaten the Toffees to the signing.
Parma have reached a verbal agreement with Bayern Munich to sign the 19 year old on loan. The legal procedures and contracts are a work in progress. Romano further reported that the deal is a loan with an option to buy at around €15 million and the Bundesliga giants have agreed to this arrangement.
Everton, Parma and Eintracht Frankfurt all were eager on Zirkzee. However, Frankfurt dropped out of the race making it a two way battle between Parma and Everton. The Toffees were not too keen on doing any January business but they would’ve been open to a loan arrival of Zirkzee.
Cenk Tosun is attracting a lot of interest since the last couple of days and there’s a chance that he’ll be gone by February 1st, leaving the Royal Blues without a backup to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Earlier in January Everton loaned U-23 striker Ellis Simms for better playing opportunities to Blackpool.
Joshua Zirkzee could have been Dominic Calvert-Lewin backup if Tosun left
If the Toffees had managed to acquire the services of Zirkzee, there would have been some respite but now with him heading to Parma and a potential departure of Tosun, Everton’s depth in the striking department is exposed.
Parma offered him better playing opportunities whereas the Toffees had a long term sporting project for him, which was understandable considering Calvert-Lewin will remain the face of the attack for seasons to come. The Bayern Munich striker was keen to get regular minutes which he wouldn’t instantly get at Goodison Park.
With Zirkzee now heading to Serie A, the Toffees may even block any of the deals for Tosun in order to keep a backup option for DCL. Launching a new transfer operation so late in the January transfer window doesn’t seem a feasible idea leaving the club with no choice but to try and stick with Tosun.
With the Toffees failing to sign the youngster on loan, will the club move for another striker or stick with Tosun?