Inter Milan Working To Sign Napoli Star As Replacement For Ex Everton Veteran

Inter Milan are working towards signing Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski as a replacement for Davy Klaassen next summer.

This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.

Inter have sniffed out an opportunity to make a major transfer coup with Zielinski.

The 29-year-old Polish international’s current contract with Napoli runs out at the end of next June.

Zielinski should likely remain with the reigning Italian champions until the end of the season. But then, he could be on his way.

Should the Pole not sign an extension, then he will be available on a free transfer.

And for any team who could manage to sign Zielinski in this manner, it would mean bringing in a peak-aged player with extensive Serie A experience, who was a key player for last season’s title-winners, without a fee.

Inter have made free transfer signings of this nature a pillar of their strategy in the market in recent years.

So it is hardly a surprise that Inter are going after Zielinski.

But the big question, should Inter take the plunge, is how the former Empoli and Udinese midfielder would fit into their team.

Inter Target Piotr Zielinski To Replace Davy Klaassen

At the moment, the hierarchy in midfield is quite straightforward at Inter.

Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are the first-choice starting trio.

That midfield unit is versatile and coherent, perfect for the 3-5-2 shape that Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi uses.

Meanwhile, Davide Frattesi and Kristjan Asllani are younger options. They are largely backup players with room to grow.

And then, during the summer, Inter signed former Everton and Werder Bremen midfielder Klaassen on a free transfer from Ajax.

Klaassen arrived to bolster the depth in midfield.

And the Dutchman has done that. He has made a few starts, allowing the first-choice players a rest here and there.

But there is a sense that Klaassen has been a peripheral figure.

For this reason, Inter would be ready to let the 30-year-old leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.

And Zielinski is the player the Nerazzurri want to sign to replace Klaassen.

The Pole would certainly have more of a chance of playing as a regular starter. He could gradually replace Mkhitaryan as the Armenian ages out of the team.