Liverpool’s pursuit of Piotr Zielinski has suffered a fresh setback as reports coming out of Italy suggest Napoli are now in pole position to sign the Polish midfielder.
As reported by BBC, The Merseyside club has had an offer of around £11.7 million rejected by Udinese on Saturday. A similar offer has been accepted by the Polish International’s club from Napoli. However, the offer by the Partenopei , includes Juan Camilo Zuniga along with the transfer fee. The suggestion is that Zuniga will be transferred on loan to Watford – a club owned by Udinese investors – the Pozzo family.
Zielinski reportedly favours a move to Liverpool and has not been shy in admitting his interest to join forces with Jurgen Klopp. The Italian side are aware of the his preferences and have apparently increased the wage being offered in order to convince the player to move to San Paolo, as per reports from Italian Publication La Repubblica. Liverpool Echo have reported that Napoli’s move to tempt the midfielder has worked and that Zielinski is now apprehensive of the move.
Liverpool were reportedly in the lead to sign the midfielder but their inability to close the deal meant that Napoli came back in contention to sign the Udinese player. The Partenopei were not the only Serie A club to be linked with the player as AC Milan were also reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old.
As per the Liverpool Echo, Udinese sporting director Nereto Bonato said,“Milan are interested in Zielinski. Yet aside from making enquiries in informal talks, they have not made any concrete offers. We have a formal agreement with Napoli but this deal can not be completed because the player has not yet agreed personal terms with the club.”
Napoli’s offer seems to have pleased the midfielder’s club already as Udinese have reportedly accepted their bid. The only missing link in the transfer that seems to be Zielinski’s interest in the move which may be cured by a lucrative contract being prepared by the Serie A club.
