Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Match Review
Liverpool transfer news as Federico Chiesa’s future has been thrown into doubt.
Federico Chiesa could leave Liverpool in January if his situation does not change, reports suggest.
Since arriving from Juventus in August 2024, the forward has spent his Reds career as a bit-part player. He struggled with injury and fitness in his maiden campaign and made only five Premier League appearances as Liverpool won the title.
Chiesa may have thought his fortunes would turn after a proper pre-season and coming off the bench to score the winner in a 4-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth on the opening day. And despite recording two goals and three assists in all competitions, he has remained on the periphery of Arne Slot’s squad.
Chiesa has rejected several call-ups to Italy’s squad this campaign, with suggestions that he doesn’t feel fully fit. If the Azzurri qualify for next year’s World Cup then the 27-year-old will surely want to be in their squad and operating as his best.
What’s been said
In a recent interview, Chiesa insisted that he wanted to remain at Liverpool. But according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chiesa could have a change of heart. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “What's happening with Chiesa? He's publicly expressed his desire to stay at Liverpool and play his cards right. If he still hasn't found the playing time he's hoping for between now and January, and the club were to sign another winger, then we need to be careful. Italian clubs will be able to try again in January if necessary; in the summer, the doors to Chiesa and Liverpool were closed. Today, the door is closed, but keep an eye on January 20th, depending on the circumstances.”
Chiesa was Slot’s only signing after taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the Liverpool hot seat. At £10 million, it was a calculated gamble given the injuries that the former Fiorentina man had suffered earlier in his career. He had been a key figure when Italy won Euro 2020.
‘I see a totally different Federico’
After his goal against Bournemouth, Slot had insisted that he saw a ‘totally different’ Chiesa’ but he still remains down the Reds’ attacking pecking order, with Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak preferred.
Slot said: “I see a totally different Federico now than from large parts of last season. It is completely normal because he missed out on the whole pre-season and then came into a Premier League rhythm in terms of the amount of games and in terms of intensity.
“If he is more available then he has more chances to impact our results or his playing time. But then it is about him staying as fit as he is at the moment. He is in a much better place now and as we can all see when we needed a goal and I looked at the bench I only had him and Rio (Ngumoha), a 16-year-old, as attacking options. For me, although Rio did really well in pre-season it was quite a normal choice to bring him in and he delivered.”
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