Liverpool have been a long admirer of Poland International Piotr Zelinski. Jurgen Klopp tried to bring Zielinski in 2016 from Udinese but instead, Napoli went on to get his signature.
But later the next couple of years the Reds boss again tried to bring the midfielder but the move never materialized. But once again, the Polish midfielder is on the Reds’ radar and linked with the Merseyside giants.
According to Calcio Mercato reports, Zielinski is one of the best midfielders in Serie A and is currently in top form this season. Therefore, he is now on the wishlist of big clubs and Liverpool are favorites.
Zielinski signed a new contract at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Stadium outfit. And a report over the summer hinted midfielder held a whopping £94m release clause in his contract.
However, The Naples-based side would hear an offer of around 60 million for Poland International.
Why Liverpool failed to sign Napoli’s star Zielinski in the past ?
It is no secret that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp have been a long term admirer Zielinski. And back in 2016, the midfielder was very close to signing for the Reds.
Liverpool were in pole position for signing the Polish man but Napoli eventually won the race and Zielinski moved from Udinese to Napoli. And instead, the Reds ended up bringing Dutchman Gini Wijnaldum to Anfield.
Back in the 2016 summers, Jurgen Klopp was going to enter his first full season with the Reds. And the German wanted to make big changes in the squad with Zielinski being one of the targets for incoming to the Anfield club.
Klopp insisted that a midfielder’s inclusion is vitally important.
Some reports claim that Zielinski met Klopp at this point, discussing a potential move to Anfield for that summer.
But Liverpool found negotiations difficult with Udinese. Their owner Giampaolo Pozzo informed that due to the interest in Zielinski being out there in the media – the player even wore a Liverpool shirt on Polish television – the price would be going up.
An initial offer of €11m by Liverpool was Pozzo rejected on June 20. Moreover, Napoli were close to agreeing to a deal with Udinese.
Liverpool looked at another young talent, Mahmoud Dahoud of Borussia Monchengladbach but the move never happened. Later, Dahoud joins Klopp’s former club Dortmund.
But then it was proposed that the club should target a more established midfielder in the English top-flight. The one who doesn’t need time to adapt to the Premier League, and who could be an immediate fix in the first team.
Thus, Gini Wijnaldum was the man, and he arrived from Newcastle in a £25m ($33m) deal.
