No Formal Offer from Reds for Piotr Zielinski Says Udinese Sporting Director

Seemingly contradicting earlier reports that Liverpool have had a bid denied for Udinese midfielder Piotr Zielinski, the sporting director of the Italian club has said that an agreement has been reached with Serie A rivals Napoli, but no official offer has been received from the Anfield outfit.

“We have an agreement with Napoli for Zielinski,” Nereo Bonato said on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli when asked about competing offers for the Polish international. “The player is right now on holiday after the European Championship and deciding what he will do next season. Liverpool have only made contact with us about Zielinski,” he continued, before putting to bed speculation that they’ve at the very least matched the offer on the table from the Gli Azzurri by adding, “They haven’t made a formal offer.”

Zielinski, who had a stand out season on loan with Empoli over the previous campaign, but could only manage to be a bit part player as Poland crashed out of the European Championships at the hands of finalists Portugal, has made no secret of his desire to hook up with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside. Talking up his chats with the charismatic German manager and how well he’d dovetail Brazilian magician Philippe Coutinho, a move to Anfield is seemingly in the players heart — something that Napoli’s president has already confirmed.

“Liverpool have made a bid for him and Zielinski wants to join them,” said Aurelio De Laurentiis almost a month ago, “but we are trying to convince the player to join us, because we have an agreement with Udinese.”

More on this later as it drags on…and on…and on…