Jurgen Klopp met with Serie A player over Liverpool move in 2016 but signed Gini Wijnaldum instead

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The summer of 2016 is often seen as a pivotal moment in the development of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

With the German having been in charge at Anfield for over six months, he had already run the rule over the players he wanted to build a team around, and those he wanted to move on.

Players were identified to join Liverpool who would go on to form the team which conquered England and Europe.

Sadio Mane was comfortably the most important addition, with the winger going on to become a Liverpool legend across six seasons with the Reds.

Joel Matip also arrived on a free transfer, while Gini Wijnaldum would end up being a key signing in central midfield.

However, like several of Klopp‘s highest-profile signings, Wijnaldum was actually second choice in the transfer market. Liverpool were forced to pivot after the German held an unsuccessful meeting with his preferred option.

Jurgen Klopp wanted Piotr Zielinksi at Liverpool

Wijnaldum was an often underrated member of the Liverpool squad who dominated under Klopp, but he was absolutely key to a brilliant Reds side.

Things could have been so different, however, had Klopp landed Piotr Zielinski from Udinese.

According to a report from the Liverpool ECHO in 2018, the then Liverpool manager was a big fan of Zielinski and was ‘determined’ to sign him before switching his attention to Wijnaldum.

The Reds reportedly bid £11.75m, which was rejected by Udinese. However, the Serie A side then confusingly accepted an identical bid from Napoli, which is where Zielinski ended up.

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Prior to that, the Poland international was seen wearing a ‘Zielinski 10’ Liverpool shirt after being ambushed with it while appearing on Polish television.

Although this had made a move seem inevitable at the time, the Reds ultimately failed in bringing Klopp’s desired midfielder to the club.

Zielinski confirmed Klopp meeting

Speaking in September 2016, once his move to Napoli had been completed, Zielinski spoke to the Polish press to confirm he did indeed meet with Klopp.

“My head was a mess. Liverpool finally got a plane and I met with Jurgen Klopp,” he said via The Express.

“He said he wanted me in his team. I saw a different world and after returning my head was even a bigger mess. I really wanted to start the preparations for the new season with a new team as soon as possible.

“I knew that Liverpool wanted me badly and I knew they would return to the talks as I got that promise in January,” Zielinski added. “It didn’t work out for them with Udinese at the end.”

As was revealed in 2024, Klopp tried to convince Mario Gotze to join in 2016 but was rejected by the player. On paper, the legendary Liverpool boss had a very different vision for what he wanted at Anfield.

But, as Wijnaldum will attest, things didn’t work out so badly in the end.