Napoli are still trying to sell Zieliński (allegedly). Why?

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Given how well Napoli have been playing, it really does seem mildly nonsensical. Piotr Zieliński is often rumoured to leave Napoli every transfer window, and this January has been no different.

Reports in Italy emerged over the weekend that Napoli are looking to sell Zieliński either this month or in the summer on account of his high wages. Follow-up articles in the Italian media claimed that Liverpool were looking reignite their long-standing interest in the 28 year-old, given the Merseyside club’s midfield difficulties this season.

It’s hard to know just how seriously to take these stories, considering they roll around every six months. Napoli may well be looking to offload Zieliński, given they did so in the summer with the (relatively) old guard of Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly, replacing and upgrading with the younger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim-Min Jae respectively. Perhaps Napoli have identified a successor/improvement on Zielu, or maybe they see Eljif Elmas as that player, and have decided Zieliński isn’t worth the wages. However, I doubt this is the case, certainly not at the moment given Napoli are potentially six months away from a first Scudetto in over 30 years.

Much as it would be lovely for personal and professional reasons to see Zielu line-up at Anfield, I can’t see that happening either. Zieliński is well-settled in Naples and has made steps towards Italian citizenship, so why would he leave Italy? He reportedly turned down West Ham last summer on this condition, and it’s hard to see him making an exception for Liverpool, but not impossible. That being said, Zieliński is a different type of midfielder than usually signed by Liverpool, and rarely do they go for anyone approaching their 30s (with Thiago the notable exception).

If Zieliński were to leave Napoli, I don’t see it happening until his contract ends. Free transfers amongst the big Serie A clubs are commonplace, and for someone becoming an Italian citizen, it makes sense if he has to leave Napoli to go to a club in Italy. AC Milan were also alleged to be in for Zielu in the summer, but elected to sign Charles De Ketelaere instead.

All in all, I would be very surprised to see Zieliński leave Napoli in this transfer window, unless a ridiculous bid arrived from a huge club. Not impossible, but highly improbable.

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