Image via Mikolaj Barbanell/Shutterstock
Despite having some pretty abject mid-season form, Krzysztof Piątek has bounced back with two assists and a goal in his last three games for Salernitana. Whilst this is unlikely to secure him a permanent move to the Serie A club, despite a permanent move being an option of the loan deal, Piątek’s sale is the priority of parent club Hertha Berlin as they embark upon a huge rebuilding process ahead of a first season in the 2. Bundesliga since 2012-13.
A report yesterday in German newspaper Bild, which was subsequently picked up by the Italian and Polish press, claimed that Sporting Lisbon and La Liga side Girona are interested in acquiring Piątek’s services for the upcoming season. Piątek would likely be allowed to leave on a cut-price deal, as his wages cost Hertha money they can scarcely afford in the middle of a rebuild, and the board have allegedly given up hope of recouping any sizeable amount of the €27m fee Hertha paid in January 2020.
Sporting would be a very interesting move for Piątek, as it is expected that the Lisbon club will lose a number of valuable starting players as clubs higher up the food chain look to acquire Sporting’s star assets. Despite the fact Sporting will likely be losing some of these key players, they should still be competing in European competition this upcoming season, and this would provide Piątek with a chance to play in European club competition for the first time since he appeared for Zagłębie Lubin in Europa League qualifying in 2016.
As for Piątek’s prospects at Girona, he would most likely feature off the bench for the club, who mostly rely on recognisable older players and emerging talents they have on loan from season-to-season, due in no small part to being a member of the City Football Group. Whilst they likely wouldn’t be competing in Europe, they would most definitely start next season with European qualification the aim given their strong La Liga campaign in 2022-23.
The question for Piątek therefore is, would he be content getting occasional minutes in an improving team in a Top 5 league, or would he rather be guaranteed healthy minutes for a top team in Portugal? The Primeira Liga is a very watchable and surprisingly competitive championship, and a move to Sporting Lisbon would represent a chance at something of a comeback from a slight career wilderness since his move to the German capital didn’t work out three years ago.
Of course, this is all speculation based off one newspaper report, and Salernitana could yet exercise their option to make his loan move permanent. Failing that however, we could see yet another new club for Piątek and hopefully it is one where he can rediscover the form that made a club like Hertha pay €27m.
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