Transfer story
If recent reports are to be believed, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Serie A midfielder Piotr Zielinski. The Pole has been a Liverpool target for quite a while now as Jürgen Klopp rates the midfielder very highly. The 23-year old is very talented and had a stunning season with Napoli.
The Naples outfit finished third in the league behind Roma and champions Juventus but had an impressive Champions League campaign as they lost to eventual winners Real Madrid in the knockout stages.
Zielinski was part of a well-oiled outfit under Maurizio Sarri and has one pretty well at the club since his move from Udinese. Liverpool were linked with the player last summer as well but he chose to stay in the Serie A and moved to Napoli instead. The move has done him a world of good as he has been able to improve his game and become more mature in a side that has quite a few talents.
Player stats
The midfielder started 18 league games and came off the bench for another 18. He scored 6 goals and mustered 7 assists for his teammates. His pass completion was very high, as he completed 87% of his attempted passes.
Sarri’s side have done well in transitioning during the game and that can be seen in Zielinski’s Champions League stats as he averages a tackle and an interception every game.
What’ll he offer Liverpool?
Zielinski could be that x-factor in Liverpool’s midfield. Although Emre Can is a pretty good box to box midfield, they’ll need depth and the Pole can add that. His strengths are making forward runs, though, and he isn’t someone who can break down the game on a regular basis, so if they do sign him, he should ideally be played alongside a more defensive-minded midfielder.
With Wijnaldum showing he can adapt his game, Liverpool’s midfield would look good from the attacking perspective; the way Klopp likes his sides to play.
At what price?
£61m is obviously way too high for the midfielder. It is perhaps Napoli and De Laurentiis’ way of saying ‘you can try all you want but he’s not for sale.’
With Liverpool already embroidered in a transfer saga with AS Roma for Mo Salah, a similar scene with Napoli is something they should avoid. Klopp will find better players for a cheaper price tag and perhaps the club should look beyond Zielinski in the transfer market.
