---
title: "Joshua Zirkzee rejected Everton over concerns about game-time"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/zirkzee-rejected-everton-concerns-over-game-time/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2021-02-03T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-03T16:00:00Z"
---

# Joshua Zirkzee rejected Everton over concerns about game-time

[Voetbal International](https://www.vi.nl/) \[via [The Boot Room](https://tbrfootball.com/report-explains-why-13-5m-man-turned-down-chance-to-join-everton-on-deadline-day/)\] has revealed exactly why a proposed move for Bayern Munich starlet [Joshua Zirkzee](https://readeverton.com/2021/01/28/joshua-zirkzee-everton-parma-transfer-latest/) to [Everton](https://readeverton.com/2021/02/03/blackburn-windfall-joshua-king-everton-signing-transfers/) broke down.

A move to bring the Dutch target man to Goodison Park failed to materialise, with the youngster choosing Serie A side Parma over the Toffees.

The teenager completed a loan-to-buy move, but the prospect of regular first team football at Parma appealed the most to him. Zirkzee was concerned that he would be more of a rotational bench-warmer at Goodison Park, playing deputy to Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

According to [Gianluca di Marzio,](https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/calciomercato-parma-zirkzee-bayern-monaco-news) the Italian club have inserted an option to buy the player worth €13.5m (£11.9m), indicating that the Dutchman has one eye on a permanent stay at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Everton director of football Marcel Brands [knows the youngster](https://readeverton.com/2021/01/27/everton-submit-loan-to-buy-bid-for-joshua-zirkzee/), given that he held a post with Dutch outfit Feyenoord when Zirkzee was coming through their youth setup.

### READ EVERTON VERDICT

In the end, missing out on Zirkzee was not a major blow for the Toffees, who brought in [knows the youngster](https://readeverton.com/2021/01/27/everton-submit-loan-to-buy-bid-for-joshua-zirkzee/) on a six-month deal for a nominal fee on deadline day. The Dutchman’s potential cannot be understated, but a deal looked destined to go Parma’s way.

There will be a collective sigh of relief among Everton fans that they were able to secure meaningful backup in the centre-forward role and will be safe in the knowledge a lack of depth is unlikely to catch them out.

Even in the worst of circumstances, Richarlison [has experience](https://readeverton.com/2021/01/27/everton-submit-loan-to-buy-bid-for-joshua-zirkzee/) playing as a striker and represents a third option.

In that view, Everton secured a striker in an ultimately successful window in which both the incomings and outgoings [suited the tailored needs of the club](https://readeverton.com/2021/02/02/everton-january-transfer-window-success-marcel-brands/).