Barcelona, Inter Milan 'to battle for Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski'

Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski has reportedly emerged as a potential transfer target for Barcelona and Inter Milan.

Having earned experience with Udinese and Empoli, Zielinski secured a move to the Naples-based outfit in 2016, costing an alleged €16m.

At the time, the deal was not regarded that notable, yet Zielinski has progressed into a Napoli legend with 342 appearances having been made in all competitions.

As well as contributing 50 goals and 46 assists, Zielinski starred during the 2022-23 Serie A title-winning campaign, missing just one of 38 league fixtures.

Ideally, Napoli would like to see the Poland international extend his stay at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona into a ninth campaign.

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That may not prove to be the case, though, with the 29-year-old's contract currently due to expire at the end of the current season.

Although a renewal is still a possibility, a wide array of clubs are naturally monitoring the situation, aware of the opportunity to sign a world-class player on a free transfer.

According to Fichajes, Barcelona and Inter are each attracted to the idea of signing Zielinski in 2024.

In the case of Barcelona, securing deals for free agents has proven to be a popular route of late due to their well-documented financial problems.

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Xavi can claim to be well stocked for options in midfield, yet Zielinski's versatility may prove to be a valuable asset in a squad that is sometimes being too reliant on younger players.

From Inter's perspective, they seemingly view Zielinski as a player who would demand a regular role in the starting role as they look to cope better with the demands of Serie A and the Champions League.

Simone Inzaghi's side currently sit two points clear at the top of the table, but 34-year-old Henrikh Mkhitaryan is currently viewed as a first-choice pick in their midfield three.

Inter also have a total of eight players who are 31 years of age and above in their senior ranks, and the arrival of Zielinski would marginally lower their average age in what may prove to be another summer of transition at San Siro.