Premier League giants Liverpool are reportedly set to reignite their interest in SSC Napoli and Polish international midfielder Piotr Zielinski.
According to a report in The Sun, Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking to reinforce their midfield in the summer. Liverpool lost out on Zielinski in 2016 when he moved to SSC Napoli from Empoli FC, but it now seems as if the Reds are set to make a move for him again in the summer.
It seems as if Naby Keita’s arrival in the summer isn’t enough for the Reds, who want to further reinforce their midfield. Emre Can is reportedly edging closer to an Anfield exit in the summer and 23-year-old Zielinski is likely being considered as a potential replacement.
Last summer it was rumoured that Liverpool were one of the clubs that had £25 million bid for the Polish international midfielder turned down. This summer however, the former Empoli midfielder is expected to cost any potential suitor a massive £57 million.
Piotr, who turns 24 in May, has a little over 3 seasons left on his current contract, so the Partenopei will be in no rush to offload him any time soon. This season he has made 41 appearances across all competitions, but started only 18 of those games.
Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri is spoilt for choice with regard to midfielders and wingers in his squad and Zielinski has to compete with Marek Hamsik, Allan, Jorginho, Amadou Diawara and Marko Rog for a place in midfield for every single game.
Capable of playing on the wings or as an attacking midfielder as well, but has found it hard to displace Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon on either flank. His versatility and the options he provides would certainly be welcomed with open arms by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Zielinksi has all the attributes to become a top class midfielder. He is quick, has a good eye for goal, is a tireless runner and is an intelligent player. The defensive aspect of his game is very good, he uses his physicality nicely both with and without possession and is adept with the ball at his feet.
While Klopp will likely use him in midfield alongside Keita, the fact that he can play anywhere in midfield or in attack and his relatively young age would make him a superb long term option and he has all the attributes to make it in the German boss’s squad.
He will likely face a lot less competition for places at Anfield and at his age, it is important for him to start regularly. Despite the limited opportunity, he has bettered last season’s goal tally of 6 goals already by netting 7 goals this season with 6 games left in the current campaign.
So one can safely assume that had he been given more minutes, his output would have been significantly higher. A move away from Stadio San Paolo seems like a good step to take at this point but Liverpool certainly won’t be the only ones chasing his signature and it will be interesting to see if Zielinski ends up plying his trade at Anfield come next season.
