‘Deadly’ 18-goal striker training alone as Newcastle plot bargain deal

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Joshua Zirkzee is training alone at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich as Newcastle United plot to lure the £10 million striker to the Premier League, as reported by Sport1. 

This summer has already seen one Bayern benchwarmer swap the Allianz Arena stands for a fresh start and a clean slate on UK soil.  

And don’t expect Julian Nagelsmann to stand in Zirkzee’s way should Newcastle firm up their interest, like a tousle-haired Gandalf screeching ‘You Shall Not Pass’ at an irksome centre-forward crying out for some regular first-team football. 

According to Het Laaste Nieuws, the Magpies are keen on the 6ft 4ins poacher. Zirkzee, who rejected Everton as a teenager and has seven goals in eight caps for the Dutch U21s, ticks a lot of boxes for a club who’s transfer policy – regardless of those Saudi billions – continues to revolve around young, hungry talent with substantial re-sale value. 

Tick, tick and tick, as far as Zirkzee is concerned. 

Newcastle United want Bayern Munich striker Joshua Zirkzee

After returning to Bavaria following an excellent loan spell at Anderlecht, Sport1 claims that Zirkzee is training alone, away from the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer. This comes after the 21-year-old – once labelled a ‘crazy’ talent by Neuer and ‘deadly’ by Kimmich – indicated that he would not exactly relish the idea of spending 2022/23 twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines, even if Robert Lewandowski’s own wanderlust complicates matters. 

“I don’t think it makes much sense to go back to Bayern,” he says. “ After a season in which I’ve played a lot. I just want to play. And, after this season, I will see where is best and then I will also talk to Bayern.” 

Zirkzee produced 18 goals and 13 assists under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht. And, for £10 million, he’s available for a third of the price of Hugo Ekitike. 

“I could have gone to Everton,” Zirkzee explained when asked why he chose Bayern over The Toffees when leaving Feyenoord in 2018.

“They pushed hard. But breaking through (into the first team) in England is difficult. Bayern was different. They really wanted me. Bayern made a great effort. Who would say no?”