It seemed only a matter of time before Piotr Zielinski ended up at Anfield, having been pictured on Polish television wearing a Liverpool shirt in May 2016.
The Reds had extensively scouted the midfielder months before this occurred and received glowing reviews of the player’s talent. A move during the January transfer window of 2016 was considered, although a decision was made to wait until the summer.
Tabling a bid worth £9.5m after being left impressed by his progress during a two-year loan with Empoli, Liverpool were not alone in wanting to recruit the now 28-year-old as Serie A sides began to circle. Negotiating with Zielinski’s parent club at that time, Udinese, proved to be a significant challenge after being informed his initial €10m valuation would be raised higher due to growing interest.
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Complications over a fee were clear at this point, although there could be no doubting the fact Zielinski’s heart was set on a Merseyside switch. "I work hard in Empoli so that in June I may have a chance for such a big transfer," he said in March 2016. (Playing with Coutinho?) Of course. I think we could make a good pair. Time will tell what is going to happen."
Even Napoli, who were rivalling the Reds for his signature, had seemingly conceded defeat in the battle to sign the emerging talent. Club president Aurelio de Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport: "Instead it now seems as if the player is doing everything possible to resist the move and not come here. He wants Liverpool."
Napoli eventually ended this transfer saga by striking a deal which saw Colombian left-back Juan Camilo Zuniga heading to Watford on loan as part of this agreement. This suited Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo, who assumed ownership of the Championship club in 2012.
Liverpool turned their attention to Gini Wijnaldum after missing out on this opportunity, an acquisition that certainly represented value for money over time. Zielinski, too, has exceeded expectations and recently helped Napoli clinch their first league title since 1989/90.
A recent report suggested the Serie A title winner is back on the Reds’ radar after seven years, at a time whereby midfield reinforcements are expected during the upcoming transfer window. One individual who would be keen for this to become a reality is none other than former Liverpool goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek.
Making his final appearance for Poland on June 4 a decade ago, handed his debut for the national team that day was Zielinski – an individual Dudek has had no doubts over for a number of years. “He’s a very talented player,” the 2005 Champions League hero told the ECHO.
“He already received a Liverpool shirt, when he became the Young Player of the Year in Poland. That shirt I gave him, I was thinking he was going to move to Liverpool and that would have been a good move. He is top of Serie A and I hope to see some Polish players at Liverpool as I felt really good there and the next Polish player at the club will be feeling good.
“I saw him once on the television programme, which is much more for fun, and there was a crossbar challenge. He was juggling the ball and I was surprised he could play with the right and left foot with the same kind of quality. I said, ‘wow, that is a big player!’ At that time, he was very young but you could see the potential he had. You couldn’t tell the difference between his right and left leg, which is always very impressive. He is a big hope for Poland, but he hasn't delivered yet. We are still waiting for that.”
Dudek remains the only Polish player to represent Liverpool in a professional fixture, although he has hopes this could soon change based on activity elsewhere. There are currently six individuals from his homeland operating in the Premier League, with Arsenal defender Jakub Kwior the latest arrival in January.
“In the last few years, we’ve had many players in Serie A, and that was a big surprise,” said Dudek, 50. “Now it seems like we are getting more players to the Premier League, which is a very demanding division. I hope he (Kwior) gets more chances because it is nice to sign for the big club but, at the end of the day, you need to play. He is a great player, still young, and very important to the national team.”
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