Zirkzee rumours slip into high gear

Third time lucky, maybe?

Good option as a loan if available. He's not short of ability even if it hasn't worked out at Man Utd.

Much better technically than Beto and Barry -- but much less a conventional striker than these two also (since he comes very deep and acts as a playmaker more than a goalscorer).

Might be a headache initially as to how he fits in (especially while we're still re-building the flanks) but could become very good.

Are Everton new pastures for Zirkzee or am I confusing him with somebody else who spent a short time with us as a junior?

Alan 2, Yes he was at Everton.

The battle for the youngster was between Bayern Munich and Everton, where Zirkzee played two games in an international youth tournament in the Czech Republic.

"Everton was a serious option for me, because Ronald Koeman was the manager of the first team and I didn't have many strikers in front of me at that time," he said in an interview in 2019.

"Romelu Lukaku left for Manchester United that summer and Everton gave me a feeling there was a good chance to come through there. When I was there, they offered me a contract straightaway."

But yet Zirkzee waited until he got an offer from Bayern.

I'd sooner go for Højlund, tbh.

6-month loan. See how he does. There's a player in there.

Then get a decent right-back.

If my memory serves, didn't we have an interest in him about 5 or 6 years ago?

I agree, there is a decent, creative, goal-scoring player in there. Go get him in.

If being seriously considered, then it's got to be a loan only.
Still has lots to prove and still needs lots of improvement.
Seems to have a good footballing brain and some nice touches around the box, but doesn't seem to be a true
Number 9.

Maybe with the right coaching and trust, he could develop as he's still fairly young... but for now, it's 50-50 that he will become a serious threat in front of goal.

Dude has football IQ that Man Utd does not know how to use.

I agree, Dale -- and he's also completely unsuited to their rigid 3-4-3 formation (which doesn't suit Fernandes either).

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how he'd fit in for us. I'm not convinced he's really a striker. He's more of an attacking midfielder in terms of the positions he takes up.

He could potentially play behind Barry in the Number 10 spot, with the likes of Grealish, Ndiaye and Dibling on the wings. If we did that, we'd have some real giants in the side with Branthwaite and O'Brien.

It always feels good to be in agreement with your opinions Robert.

I just think he would be able to see what Jack is doing and time it right or combine well if he drifts out of the box.

I don't watch a lot of football but have to agree with Dale and Robert because Zirkzee has always looked like he could become a very good player whenever I've watched him play.

I think it's very rare that I've ever watched him play a full game, and he definitely needs to be playing more if he is to fulfil his potential... but I've just realised he's Dutch and I don't think we have ever had any decent Cloggies at our club!!!

Moyes will want a big lump up front -- not someone who apparently has a football brain and is aware of what's going on around him.

Another striker with a questionable scoring rate?

No thanks!!

6 months loan and see how both he and we shape up..

And in the Sunday League manner ask him if he has any mates who play fullback.

Tony, Heitinga was quite decent. Even got voted Player of the Season once.

But Van der Meyde and Drenthe have left a much longer lasting impression.

Oh I dunno, Jack@12.

Donovan, Johnson, Beckford, Bent and Saha weren't big lumps and Yakubu was a goalscorer in a similar style to Lukaku.

It's a 50/50 split for me.

I hated Heitinga. Bog average who should never have been allowed anywhere near a midfield position when he played there.

I've always liked what I have seen from Zirkzee. Loan with option would do us nicely. Particularly as we will have to find the money to buy Grealish in the summer.

"mashed up and spat out from the grinding wheels".

Un/subconscious reference to "In the Court of the Crimson King" - released 56 years ago today (10/10/69)?

Enough off-topic frippery -- it's a yes from me for Zirkzee - loan + option

I missed that, Paul. Good eye and even better ear.

Well played, Michael!

I didn't realise Victor Boniface is on loan at Werder Bremen.

Admittedly we're desperate for a striker...

But he's always stunk the house out when I've seen him for Man Utd.

Not a traditional #9 but, much like Felaini, who provided a really interesting option for us, he's definitely capable.

What would be the point of bringing in a striker who has scored 3 league goals in 35 matches?

How would that benefit Everton?

David # 23, Zirkzee isn't really a striker. He gets played there because of his height etc but he's more like an attacking midfielder.

He is a very gifted, technical playmaker who could play as a striker in the same way that Firminho used to at the RS (dropping deep and allowing wing-forwards to run in behind).

For us, you'd probably set up in a 4-4-1-1 (ish) with Zirkzee as a 10 and Barry as a 9. I quite like the look of this if you had something like:

Barry
Zirkzee
Grealish or Ndiaye
Dibling
Garner
Rohl
Mykolenko
[new right-back]
Branthwaite
O'Brien
Pickford

It is a remarkably tall side but also pacy and mobile - provided we could also get a new right-back too.

No way. If he's the answer, then we don't even know the question. Another bang-average limited player with a questionable attitude.

There has to be more hungry players out there who wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Scout the damn world, Everton, for Christ's sake!

Another rumour that seems to have flown under the radar here at TW is: Gabriel Jesus. Apparently, we are interested in signing him from Arsenal. He is still only 28, a proven goal-scorer, but has fallen out of favour at Arsenal. With Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibling and Alcaraz feeding him, he certainly has the goal poaching instincts to get us a healthy return of goals.

Robert (#24), why would we want another #10 in Zirkzee, when we already have the likes of Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz, potentially Dibling and Armstrong (when he returns from his loan spell) who can play in that position?

What we absolutely are screaming out for is a striker who knows where the onion bag is. If Moyes were to sign Zirkzee, I am 100% sure that the intent would be to use him as a focal point striker.

Jesus has been out for 12 months with a ACL injury.

I'd only take him on loan to start with.

Robert,

He's been involved in 38 Premier League matches and scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist.

I certainly wouldn't be thinking of not playing Ndiaye or Grealish to accommodate Zirkzee.

Beto gets grief, 1 in 7, sharing the minutes.

Mateta regarded as far better, 2 in 7, starts all the time, missed some sitters.

Off topic. But I see Wigan lost the rugby league grand final. 😆😆😆

I’ve just seen that Paul. This time last week when some people were happily posting that Liverpool, had just been beat, you posted on this very website, an Everton website, that you couldn’t understand why people were celebrating, and then seven nights later you post that Wigan have been beat with a few happy faces?

Think about it Paul, you don’t understand Evertonians, celebrating Liverpool losing, but you are happy to post on this same website, when Wigan lose a rugby league game.

This shows double standards of the highest order imo, Paul…..genuine kopite behaviour!

Off topic but there are rumours for Dyche to replace Postecoglou...
Can they be serious!?

Tony, I don't give a shit. Wigan lost.

Of course you don’t Paul. You’re happy about it, just like loads of Evertonians, were happy when Liverpool lost last week.

The only difference is that you didn’t understand it when a lot of Evertonians, were happy that Liverpool had lost🤦‍♂️