While Union Berlin have bounced back quite brilliantly from losing the talismanic figure of Max Kruse to injury, a run of three wins in four games was never going to change their January plans.
A new striker, regardless of Sheraldo Becker’s emergence and the sudden brilliance of Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi, was a must.
“We now have three injured strikers,” coach Urs Fischer, who is also doing without Joel Pohjanpalo and Anthony Ujah, told the Berliner Zeitung last week.
“(Signing a new number nine) is still possible at the moment. We’ll try something and see if we can do that.”
According to the BZ, Junker was one of the names on Union’s wishlist. And with good reason.
With 27 goals in 25 games, the late-blooming Dane was the irrepressible driving force at the heart of Bodo/Glimt’s Eliteserien title triumph in 2020.
And, at the age of 26, Junker is desperate to strike while the iron is hot and secure a move to one of Europe’s major leagues.
“Some concrete things have started to come up. Especially the English stuff, sounds very interesting,” Junker, who has spent his entire career in Scandinavia, told BT after being linked with Crystal Palace, Derby County, Celtic and West Brom, as well as the Bundesliga’s Berlin-based surprise packages (TEAMtalk).
“There have been a lot of inquiries and we are looking at it very seriously, because this is a springboard for me. It’s clear that, if something good comes, I will hop in that carriage.”
But, with Union seemingly bringing an end to their striker search over the weekend, Junker can scribble one potential destination off his lengthy list of suitors.
A deal has been agreed with Bayern Munich to sign the highly-rated Leon Dajaku, according to Kicker. According to general manager Oliver Ruhnert, the 19-year-old will be catapulted directly into Fischer’s XI.
So, with Union seemingly bowing out of the race, West Brom, Palace, Celtic and more could be set for the tightest of photo finishes with less than a fortnight remainng in the transfer window.
Celtic don’t need a new striker just yet but, with Odsonne Edouard expected to follow in Moussa Dembele’s footsteps next summer, the Hoops risk missing out on the prolific Junker unless they act fast.
Especially with the relegation-threatened Derby and West Brom desperate to land a reliable number nine this month. For the Rams and the Baggies, Junker could be the difference between staying up and going down.
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