Joshua Zirkzee remains an in-demand profile ahead of the summer transfer window, but a report has questioned whether his scoring record is good enough for a club like AC Milan or Juventus.
As Calciomercato.com write, there are parallels between Zirkzee and Rafael Leao. Both players show off their dribbling, creativity and ability to be a spark from nothing, but both can spend long periods without scoring.
When Bologna take on Roma, Zirkzee will have crossed the line of going two months without an open play goal in Serie A, and one and a half months overall. The former Anderlecht man scored his last goal from open play in the capital against Lazio on 18 February, a game he got an assist in too.
His last goal when including penalties dates back to March 3 against Atalanta. Two important scalps, two fundamental goals, and many good things since then but no goals, not even in the 3-0 against Salernitana.
That broke a lean period for Thiago Motta’s team in general, who after winning in Bergamo scored just four times in five games which is not ideal when pursuing a spot in the Champions League places.
Zirkzee was visibly annoyed by not being able to help Bologna break the deadlock, despite a couple of flashes from his team during the 90 minutes.
The Dutchman always gives the idea of being able to invent something, he is never out of the game, but if he does make the jump to a top club he cannot go eight weeks without scoring.
If for Leao the accusations of being less than clinical as a winger remain, imagine what could rain down on Zirkzee, one of the possible replacements for Olivier Giroud at Milan.
Milan’s interest has been documented for months as per the report, while Juventus are now being linked with a swoop for Zirkzee and Motta. Bayern can buy him back for €40m but do not seem inclined to do so while the player can reject a return to Munich.
In any case, Bayern are entitled to 40% of the proceeds from a future resale. Unless the goals start again though, that amount might be lower than the Rossoblu hoped.