Joshua Zirkzee had a tough start to the season at Bayern Munich, so a loan move could help him to continue his development.
Bayern Munich made a late dash for four transfers at the end of the summer. The German Champions wanted to improve the squad depth since the 2020/21 campaign is set to be hectic due to the congestion of fixtures. The new signings were made with the view of satisfying short term and long-term goals.
The arrival of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on free transfer took everyone by surprise as Bayern were not expected to sign a striker this summer. However, the late interest in Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric made it clear that the club wanted someone to manage the workload of Robert Lewandowski.
Choupo-Moting’s signing didn’t raise questions over the immediate future of Joshua Zirkzee at the club. The Dutch forward was assigned number 14 in the first-team squad this season after impressing under Hansi Flick last season. Zirkzee came up with goals whenever the team needed it most throughout the treble-winning campaign. He ended the season with four goals and one assist in 16 appearances across all competitions.
Things have been complicated for the young forward this season as he has managed only 92 mins in the Bundesliga this season. Zirkzee is yet to get playing time in the Champions League group stages. The Dutch forward was heavily linked with a move to Feyenoord at the end of the window, but the deal didn’t materialize. (Stats courtesy: Whoscored)
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Considering Zirkzee is down the pecking order in the first team, a loan move should be a priority for the teenager in the winter transfer window. The 19-year-old forward is at this point in his development, where he is too good for the reserves team. Playing in the senior team will help him to get much better.
According to Bild, FC Koln is interested in signing Zirkzee on loan in January. Moving to a Bundesliga club will be beneficial for the teenager as he aims to firmly establish himself at Bayern. However, Die Roten should also select the loan club that has a similar style of play to them and one that can guarantee Zirkzee regular playing time every week.
Zirkzee has been backed by former players to have a successful career in Munich due to his talent. He might not be in the immediate plans of the club, but going forward, the Dutch forward should play a significant role in the first team. Choosing the right loan is crucial for the player and the club, as a bad move can stall his progress.
Die Roten got it spot on with Adrian Fein in 2019 as he excelled for Hamburg. He is yet to get a good chance in Bavaria, but he has developed into a well-rounded midfielder during his loan spell. Zirkzee also needs a similar type of loan move. Provided there is no big injury crisis before the winter break, getting a good loan move for the Dutch forward should be high on the club’s list in January.