Rumors suggest that Liverpool is gearing up to initiate negotiations with Napoli in January to secure the signing of Piotr Zielinski, a player who has been on Jurgen Klopp’s radar for an extended period and might now be attainable at a discounted price.
Over the summer, Klopp orchestrated an overhaul of Liverpool’s midfield, addressing the departures of key players like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia, resulting in a significant revamp of their midfield personnel. With the introduction of four new additions, starting from Alexis Mac Allister to concluding with Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool managed to rejuvenate an area that had previously struggled.
Nevertheless, there’s a lingering belief within Anfield that Klopp’s midfield restructuring might not be entirely complete. Doubts have emerged about the long-term suitability of one of their signings, Wataru Endo, raising the prospect of Liverpool dipping back into the market for a fresh midfield acquisition in January.
Initially, Andre Trindade from Fluminense seemed like a potential target, but Liverpool seems to have veered away from his signing, paving the way for Trindade to possibly join Fulham. As an alternative, Liverpool is reportedly considering a move for Nice’s standout defensive midfielder, Khephren Thuram, a 22-year-old talent excelling in Ligue 1, appearing well-suited for the demands of the Premier League. Reports from Italy indicate Klopp has received the nod to pursue Thuram in a significant €45 million deal.
However, there’s speculation that Nice might resist selling Thuram midway through a season where they are performing strongly and emerging as potential title contenders. Additionally, with Liverpool eyeing reinforcements for their central defense due to Joel Matip’s potential departure, Klopp faces a decision on allocating the transfer budget between defense and midfield strengthening.
Despite potential defensive priorities, reports suggest Klopp’s renewed interest in Zielinski, a player he pursued back in 2016. Zielinski chose Napoli over Liverpool after impressing during a loan spell at Empoli. Now in his eighth season at Napoli, Zielinski’s contract is set to expire on July 1, 2024. Talks for a contract extension have stalled, prompting Napoli to consider selling him in the upcoming winter transfer window to avoid losing him for free later.
While West Ham previously had a bid rejected for Zielinski in 2023, Liverpool seems eager to reignite their pursuit. Klopp, an admirer of Zielinski, reportedly intends to contact Napoli to explore a potential deal. Although Napoli wishes to retain the player, their chairman has cautioned Zielinski’s agent about not increasing their current offer of €4 million per year. Liverpool, capable of providing a more lucrative package, reportedly aims to entice Zielinski to embrace a new challenge at Anfield, valuing his experience that could prove invaluable. Zielinski has made 345 appearances and scored 50 goals during his tenure at Napoli.