Liverpool have made their decision on Federico Chiesa clear despite his omission from the Champions League squad, with Marc Guehi's failed move to Anfield playing a part
11:16, 10 Sep 2025Updated 11:16, 10 Sep 2025
Marc Guehi
Liverpool's transfer strategy is now clear
Despite the uproar over Federico Chiesa's exclusion from Liverpool's Champions League squad, there's a simpler explanation behind it.
The decision to omit the Italian from the 23-man European campaign roster raised eyebrows among fans who believed the striker could have been a valuable asset for the upcoming season.
Following the departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez this summer, it was widely expected that Chiesa would take on a more prominent role at Anfield, especially after his limited appearances in his debut season.
The 27-year-old has shown promise in his brief appearances, notably against Bournemouth where he scored a late goal in a 4-2 victory, backed by one of the most memorable terrace anthems in recent years.
However, his omission from the European campaign suggests that head coach Arne Slot remains unconvinced by the former Juventus player. This might explain why Turkish Super Lig team Besiktas are reportedly interested in him, with their transfer window closing on September 12.
Federico Chiesa celebrates after scoring a goal for Liverpool
Federico Chiesa, who had to be left out of Liverpool's Champions League, is subject of interest from Turkey(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
The Istanbul-based club is said to have approached Liverpool for preliminary discussions about a potential deal before their player trading period ends, reports the Liverpool Echo.
However, Chiesa has simply been caught up in unfortunate circumstances. If Marc Guehi had been secured on transfer deadline day, as Liverpool attempted to do, the Euro 2020 champion would have been available for the Champions League group stage.
The last-minute collapse of Guehi's move meant that Rio Ngumoha had to fill the final homegrown spot in the 23-man squad. UEFA's registration rules permit each team a maximum of 25 players in their primary 'List A' squad.
Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi's transfer collapsed on Deadline Day(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
This includes a minimum of eight spots reserved exclusively for what the governing body considers 'locally-trained' or 'homegrown players' - those trained by their club or another in the same national association for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
This leaves 17 spots for non-homegrown players - and with Liverpool having 18 such members in their squad, it was impossible to include everyone, leading to Chiesa being deemed the most expendable once England defender Guehi remained at Crystal Palace.
With the addition of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike to the frontline this summer to support Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and 17-year-old Ngumoha, Chiesa was left out.
However, this does not mean that the Reds are prepared to let him go. Interest from Besiktas has been swiftly dismissed at Anfield, with Slot and his team eager to retain him for the upcoming campaign.
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Chiesa hasn't yet reached the stellar performance levels that made him a standout star for the Azzurri four years ago.
However, his quality and experience will be crucial during a demanding campaign that sees Liverpool competing on four fronts, with three competitions - the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup - taking place this month.
To return to his 2021 form, when he was one of Italy's key players in their delayed European Championship victory, Chiesa will need plenty of game time and momentum. Sending him on loan to Turkey would unnecessarily limit Slot's attacking options.
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Letting Chiesa leave, or indeed forcing a move upon him, wouldn't make sense at this point. That's why Besiktas will likely have to look elsewhere before their own transfer deadline passes.