For many, this won’t seem a bad thing at all: The ‘comments’ section of Claret and Hugh has most definitely not been awash with positive opinions over the stories linking West Ham with Old Trafford want-away Joshua Zirkzee this winter. He’s hardly a shoe-in as an Antonio replacement, being a hybrid 9 or 10 rather than an out and out goalscorer.
So the prospect that one of Europe’s largest clubs is now sniffing around Zirkzee will be seen, by arguably the majority of Hammers fans, as a good thing.
Reported in getfootballnewsfrance.com, apparently the latest side to show interest in the Dutchman is a pretty big-hitting European soccer power:
“A return to Italy could also be on the cards for the former Bologna forward. AS Roma have opened talks with the striker’s agents. Zirkzee would have to take a salary cut if the move was to come off, something that he has expressed a willingness to do, in order to get his career back on track.
AC Milan are also interested in the player.”
Zirkzee could be in high demand – Italian Serie A sides on the move
Which suggests that the asking price for Zirkzee is set to increase as January approaches: Hardly something West Ham will be equipped to handle. Even if a buyer can be found for the Hammers’ own Niclas Fullkrug, the Irons need to find a defender as well as a striker in the January window in which ‘value; is in notoriously short supply.
More than likely they’ll be forced to look for a less expensive out-and-out striker on an upward trajectory instead of an established Premier League – level frontman. Which will not cause most of us to lose any sleep at the thought of a Manchester United flop slipping through our fingers.
Bullet dodged if true, we need an out and out striker not a number 10
So if he goes abroad to a stellar Italian club, his salary decreases.
But if he remains in the PL hos price of loan and salary increases?
Madness