A ball hasn’t even been kicked in the Premier League but, already, Fulham fans are growing tired of one particular narrative. You know the one. Aleksandr Mitrovic; Too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premier League.
And while it’s true that the firebrand forward has never really taken the top-flight by storm before, some context is required.
Yes, Mitrovic scored just three times in his most recent Premier League campaign. But he started just 13 games that season, manager Scott Parker preferring a more mobile option up front.
In fact, the last time Mitrovic started regularly in the first division, he reached double figures back in 2018/19. And the former Newcastle United rapscallion is a far better, far more mature footballer now than he was back then. Surely a forward who found the net 43 times in 46 games is capable of giving the likes of Southampton, Everton, Bournemouth and Leeds – and plenty of other ramshackle defences – more nightmares than Freddy Krueger working overtime.
Fulham need a new forward; Is Joshua Zirkzee the solution?
But if Mitrovic is not the problem, a lack of other goalscoring options in Marco Silva’s squad certainly could be. Fabio Carvalho and Harry Wilson were the only other Fulham players to reach double figures last term. The former is now at Liverpool, while the latter could miss a number months through injury.
It’s hard to imagine Neeskens Kabano or Bobby Reid scoring with much regularity in 2022/23 either. And Manor Solomon, for all his snake-hipped qualities, is hardly the most prolific of footballers.
Reports from The Standard saying that Fulham have entered talks with Bayern Munich for the £10 million-rated Joshua Zirkzee then, should be very well received in West London. As should suggestions that the former Feyenoord starlet would choose the Cottagers over Southampton and Bournemouth.
From Munich to London
21-year-old Zirkzee is far from the finished article but he is a centre-forward of real pedigree and potential. Described as ‘deadly’ by Joshua Kimmich and labelled a ‘crazy’ talent by Manuel Neuer, Zirkzee scored a couple of vital goals during Bayern’s 2019/20 Bundesliga-winning campaign. There were a further 18 on loan at Anderlecht too.
And the German giants won’t stand in Zirkzee’s way of regular first-team football away from the Allianz Arena either, even after Robert Lewandowski’s acrimonious departure.
In a further boost to Fulham’s chances, two of the clubs most heavily linked with Zirkzee this summer – Newcastle United and West Ham – now appear to be looking elsewhere. The Hammers have already brought in Gianluca Scamacca, and have submitted an offer for Bordeaux’s Hwang Ui-Jo. Newcastle, meanwhile, appear to be prioritising Timo Werner (The Chronicle).
For both Newcastle and West Ham, the Zirkzee trail went cold some time ago. In contrast, the one leading him to Fulham is heating up fast.
Even if the doubters were correct about Mitrovic, Zirkzee should ensure that goals can be found elsewhere at Fuham.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
