Manchester United will be in the market for midfield options this summer - and it could make sense to reunite Bruno Fernandes with a 'top' former teammate at a cut-price.
Erik ten Hag looks set to oversee a summer of major investment, strengthening the squad in the hope of challenging for the Premier League next season. The Dutchman spent big in his first window last year but was restricted to loan deals in January as funds are stored for the off-season.
United's priority target is a world-class No.9 who can ease the goalscoring burden weighing on Marcus Rashford. Harry Kane has often been linked, but the Reds are now operating on the assumption that Tottenham will not sell - a decision that will lead them towards the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Rasmus Hojlund.
Following that, a technical midfielder is next on the list and last year's failed pursuit of Frenkie De Jong hints at the calibre of player being eyed. Chelsea's Mason Mount is of interest, and United are thought to be favourites to land the 24-year-old who would bring attacking threat to the squad.
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However despite entering the final 12 months of his contract, Mount is expected to cost around £70million. With around £100million set aside for a striker, such a price-tag could force United to look at cheaper options, with Napoli's Piotr Zielinski potentially available at a fraction of the cost.
The Polish international played a huge part in Napoli's success this season, registering seven goals and 10 assists as Luciano Spalletti's side secured the Serie A title and progressed into the Champions League quarter finals. However much like Mount, his contract is set to expire this summer - the difference being that Napoli may not be able to command such a huge figure.
A dynamic and technically gifted midfielder, Zielinski evidently left an impression on Fernandes, the pair having played together at Udinese between 2013 and 2014 and he even revealed that he would love to play alongside him once again in the future.
"Technically, I can say that Zielinski is better trained than I am," Fernandes told Canal Plus Sport in 2021. "We had a good challenge. I think in the past, Zielinski was actually a bit shy. He was really young then, just like me, at that time.
"However, we came from different countries, different mentality, and it was different for both of us. I have a really good relationship with Piotr. He's a top guy, I like him a lot. He is one of the people I met in Italy with whom I am in touch all the time.
"I spoke to him a few months ago and told him that I would like to play with him again. So, who knows what the future has waiting for us. For me, he is a really, really top player."
A lack of financial clout throughout Italy continues to weaken their negotiating stance when it comes to dealing with Premier League teams, particularly for those running down contracts. Whereas Chelsea can risk keeping Mount for another year if the price is not right, even title winners Napoli cannot resist offers for their star players.
As seen last year when Kalidou Koulibaly joined Chelsea, the club is open to selling players in the final stages of their contracts and the Senegalese defender ended up leaving the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium for considerably less than the figures that had been quoted for him in previous years. The defender had been talked as potentially being one of, if not the, most expensive defender of all time before completing his £33m move to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Zielinski would arrive at a fraction of the £70million demanded by the London club for Mount and with more recent title-winning experience. And what's more, the 29-year-old would be welcomed to Old Trafford by his former teammate as the signing would almost certainly make Fernandes very happy.
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