Bayern Munich chasing acclaimed Napoli midfielder

Let it not be said that Bayern Munich are doing nothing in anticipation of the summer transfer window. Die Roten are reportedly seeking to add skilled Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski to the roster over the summer.

Italian radio outlet Radio CRC reports that Bayern Munich have offered the 22-year-old midfielder a €4M per season salary in an attempt to get him to leave Naples. Bayern may have to pay his release clause which is reported to be €70M. Zielinski moved to Napoli from Udinese last summer on a €16M transfer and has four years left on his contract after this season.

Zielinski is another is the generation of complete midfielders that are coming to dominate European football. Zielinski started his career as a attacking midfielder but he has blossomed playing as a more traditional box-to-box midfielder with Napoli. Whether or not he can dictate match control as a deep-lying midfielder as some scouting outlets seem to think he can is uncertain.

For Bayern, it’s an odd move to bring in yet another box-to-box midfielder when they already have Thiago, Arturo Vidal, Joshua Kimmich, and Renato Sanches. If the plan is to move Kimmich to a fullback position following the retirement of Philipp Lahm, then moving to bring in a 22-year-old midfielder with a 100+ appearance Serie A pedigree makes sense. Otherwise it’s a puzzling move.

Zielinksi has appeared in 32 matches this season for Napoli, scoring five goals and notching 6 assists in almost 1800 minutes.