After a brace against Bochum
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The sought-after goalscorer Jonathan Burkardt has made a clear commitment to FSV Mainz 05 and has categorically ruled out a short-term transfer. “A winter change is not an issue,” said Burkardt after his brace in the fourth-placed Bundesliga’s 2-0 win against bottom side VfL Bochum.
The 24-year-old national player confirmed that there was no constellation that could change anything. “I’m fully focused on what we’re doing here. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Burkardt and added: “I think you can see that I feel comfortable, the environment is great for me, the city is great and my team is having a lot of fun. That’s why I really enjoy being here.”
With twelve goals this season, Burkardt is currently the third best Bundesliga scorer after Bayern superstar Harry Kane and Eintracht Frankfurt’s top striker Omar Marmoush. In addition, his goals on Saturday catapulted him to the top of Rheinhessen’s all-time Bundesliga top scorer list – with 35 goals in the upper house, the attacker moved past Karim Onisiwo (33) in the internal ranking. These numbers have aroused desire among other clubs. There had recently been public speculation about a possible move to Frankfurt if Marmoush followed Manchester City’s call. The English champions are intensively courting the 25-year-old Egyptian.
According to his own statement, Burkardt is not concerned with his future beyond the current season. “If I were to think about when do I want to move and where do I want to move, I wouldn’t be able to focus so well on my performance and the things that are really important,” said the striker.
Mainz sports director Niko Bungert also firmly assumes that Burkardt will stay at least until the end of the season. There are “no intentions at all from either side” to change anything in the contractual relationship, said Bungert. Burkardt’s working paper in Mainz is valid until summer 2027.