**Liverpool’s forgotten man Federico Chiesa is prepared to gamble on his Anfield future this summer, with the Italian winger determined to prove his worth to new head coach Andoni Iraola before making any decisions on a potential return to Serie A.**
The 28-year-old’s move to Merseyside hasn’t exactly gone to plan since his initial £12.5m switch from Juventus back in the summer of 2024. Despite picking up a Premier League winner’s medal for his contributions during the historic 2024/25 campaign, Chiesa found himself firmly on the periphery under former head coach Arne Slot last term, registering only two starts in the top flight.
Under contract until 2028, the former Juventus favourite has struggled to sustain any real momentum in Red, prompting intense speculation that a return to his homeland could be on the cards.
Newly-ambitious Serie A outfit Como led by former Chelsea midfielder [Cesc Fabregas are thought to be leading the chase](https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/81060/rumour-mongering-como-1907-target-federico-chiesa) as they look to replace Nico Paz and bolster their homegrown ranks ahead of a historic UEFA Champions League campaign.
Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes is reportedly ready to do business if an offer of around €20m (£16.8m) is presented, though Chiesa’s hefty £150,000-a-week wages remain a significant stumbling block for Italian suitors.
However, transfer expert [Fabrizio Romano](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxHhhhYC1e4) has revealed that Chiesa is in no rush to pack his bags. Instead, the wide man is banking on a fresh start under Iraola, reporting back for day one of pre-season while many of his teammates enjoy extended breaks following the FIFA World Cup.
### **What Fabrizio Romano has said**
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano laid out the current state of play regarding the Italian international:
“There are many questions regarding the name of Federico Chiesa – such as whether he could be a potential target for Juventus, he might join Inter as a right-winger, if there is the possibility that Napoli and Roma could return to him. Many of you are asking if Chiesa could be one of the protagonists of this transfer market.
“At the present time the decision made by the Liverpool player is to participate in the preseason – to get together with the new coach Andoni Iraola. Chiesa just wants to play his cards in preseason at Liverpool.”
Romano went on to suggest that while a summer exit remains highly possible, nothing will be rushed until Iraola has properly assessed the forward on the AXA Training Centre pitches.
“If during this preseason it becomes clear that the space between Chiesa and Liverpool is limited in that case he could become a name for the Italian market in the last weeks of the transfer market. It is not an operation for late June – not for these days.”
With the Reds already wrapping up a €40m deal for Osasuna’s Victor Munoz and actively tracking further targets like Yan Diomande, the competition out wide is fiercer than ever.
“Liverpool want to bring in another winger – they will certainly bring in another winger in addition to Victor Munoz who has already arrived,” Romano concluded.
### **Live4Liverpool Verdict**
This feels like the absolute definitive summer for Chiesa’s Liverpool career.
When he arrived for a cut-price fee in 2024, it was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward gamble on an elite talent. While he technically has a Premier League winners medal in his drawer, he simply hasn’t been able to sustain the physical levels required to be a regular starter at Anfield.
Bringing in Victor Munoz for €40m, alongside the club’s heavy pursuit of another winger like Yan Diomande, clearly signals that Richard Hughes and the recruitment team are planning for a future where Chiesa isn’t a primary option.
That being said, you have to admire the player’s attitude here. With a new coach Andoni Iraola, everyone gets a clean slate. Returning on day one of pre-season while others rest gives Chiesa a vital head start to catch the Basque eye.
If Iraola decides his high-pressing system can rejuvenate the Italian, Liverpool keep a world-class squad option. If not, a €20m price tag feels incredibly fair, and a late-August move back to Italy would suit all parties.