Arsenal are planning to pay Piotr Zielinski’s €65m (£57m) buyout clause to fend off competition from Liverpool and land the midfielder this summer.

That’s according to reports in Italy, with Corriere dello Mezzogiorno making the claims. They say Arsenal consider the signing ‘essential’, so much so that they’re pressing ahead with the transfer before even confirming a replacement for manager Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool are also on the market for a central midfielder, and hold an interest in Zielinski. They’re bringing in Naby Keita this summer, but losing Emre Can at the same time. As a result, they reportedly still want to add one more player.

At the moment it looks like Arsenal have the upper hand with this deal though, if the reports are accurate.

Zielinski was a consistent part of the Napoli team that will finish a close second in Serie A this season. He played in 34 of their 36 matches, which makes it sound like he’d have little reason to want to leave.

However, a massive 22 of those appearances came from the bench. He might want to go somewhere he can start a little more often.

From Arsenal’s point of view, they still haven’t tied down Jack Wilshere or Santi Cazorla, and lost Francis Coquelin in January. It’s very possible they’ll chase a midfielder like Zielinski, who is strong carrying the ball, playing passes and creating chances. We’ll have to wait and see.