What does Bayern Munich’s potential contract extension with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting mean for Joshua Zirkzee?

According to Dutch outlet SoccerNews.nl, the news that Bayern Munich will sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to a contract extension could mark the end of Joshua Zirkzee’s tenure in Bavaria.

Zirkzee, who was struggling on a loan assignment with Parma Calcio 1913 before suffering an injury, seems very unlikely to be able to secure the back-up role to Robert Lewandowski:

As it looks now, Joshua Zirkzee will not be a second striker at Bayern Munich next season. Der Rekordmeister is satisfied with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and will probably extend the expiring contract of the attacker from Cameroon.

The expiring commitment is likely to be extended by one year, with the same conditions of an annual salary of 2 million euros, excluding premiums. That seems to mean that Zirkzee will not be among the first two strikers in the multi-million team next season.

Sport Witness thinks this is the perfect time for Everton to make a move for a player they tried hard to bring in during the last winter transfer window:

Bayern are happy with Choupo-Moting, and they will ask him to continue, and that will mean Zirzkee is out of the picture, opening the door for Everton. They were keen in the January transfer window and made a bid if reports in Germany are to be believed, only for the striker to head to Italy instead.

Whether they are still keen isn’t known, and Soccer News don’t mention them, but it would make sense if they were. Zirkzee fits perfectly into the Marcel Brands transfer strategy, that is, a young player who Everton can develop and then potentially sell on for a profit in future. It remains to be seen if they do revive their interest come the summer, but Zirkzee is definitely a name to keep an eye on.

While there is nothing concrete in either report about what Bayern Munich’s plans are for Zirkzee, this summer would seem to be a good time for the Bavarians to sell Zirkzee. With stability in the striker position in Lewandowski and Choupo-Moting, along with a few young strikers still plugging away on campus, Bayern Munich might be well-served to see what they can get for Zirkzee in the transfer market.