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Voetbal International [via The Boot Room] has revealed exactly why a proposed move for Bayern Munich starlet Joshua Zirkzee to Everton 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, 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.
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Everton director of football Marcel Brands knows the youngster, given that he held a post with Dutch outfit Feyenoord when Zirkzee was coming through their youth setup.
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In the end, missing out on Zirkzee was not a major blow for the Toffees, who brought in knows the youngster 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 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.