Image for Atletico Madrid make official approach for £150k-a-week Liverpool forward
Image for Atletico Madrid make official approach for £150k-a-week Liverpool forward
Liverpool are preparing for a major attacking shakeup this summer as they look to add elite 1-v-1 wingers to their squad.
While Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola remains a top target following Yan Diomande’s decision to reject Anfield, a deal won’t be easy. PSG want £145m for the 23-year-old, meaning Liverpool must sell players before making a serious move.
Changes in the Liverpool attack
The forward line is already undergoing big changes following key squad departures. Mohamed Salah has left the club at the end of the 2025/26 campaign after agreeing to end his £400k-a-week contract a year early.
Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, who earns £250k a week, could also move on if a suitable offer comes in with Tottenham Hotspur looking favourite to sign him. The Reds have signed Victor Muñoz from Osasuna for £34m, but they are still searching for a primary right-sided attacker.
Federico Chiesa’s situation has rapidly emerged as a key talking point in Liverpool’s summer strategy. Having arrived from Juventus in 2024 for a fee of around £12.5 million (€12m plus add-ons), the 28-year-old Italian international encountered a frustrating lack of starting opportunities under former manager Arne Slot.
Despite making 26 Premier League appearances in the 2025/26 campaign, only a single match came from the opening whistle. Even in limited action clocking just 339 league minutes Chiesa proved his efficiency by contributing two goals and an assist, alongside two assists in the EFL Cup and a goal in the UEFA Champions League.
This efficiency has kept external suitors on high alert. According to reportsAtletico Madrid have made formal inquiries to test Liverpool’s position. Atletico manager Diego Simeone is a long-term admirer of the Italian and envisions utilizing him in a flexible hybrid role between a wide attacker and a second striker.
Concurrently, a host of Serie A clubs including Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina, and Como—have maintained regular communication with Chiesa’s representatives.
However, financial terms remain a significant sticking point for Italian suitors. Proposals in the range of €12 million to €15 million (£10m–£13m) fall well short of Liverpool’s valuation for a versatile international under contract until June 2028. Furthermore, Chiesa’s reported £150,000-per-week wages present a substantial obstacle for most Serie A budgets.
Despite intense speculation and initial inquiries from across the continent, Chiesa’s personal stance has remained remarkably steadfast. The Italian forward has taken a full part in Liverpool’s pre-season preparations and has expressed a clear desire to remain at Anfield rather than push for an exit.
The arrival of Andoni Iraola as head coach has offered Chiesa a fresh start and a clear tactical clean slate. During pre-season friendlies, Iraola has actively experimented with Chiesa in a central pressing role and as a central striker, leveraging the Italian’s high-intensity work rate, tactical discipline, and vertical running.
Chiesa has publicly voiced his commitment to the club, expressing his enjoyment of English football and his intention to prove to Iraola that he deserves a far more prominent role in the squad’s forward rotation
While Atletico Madrid and Serie A clubs continue to monitor the situation carefully before the transfer deadline, Liverpool hold a strong hand with Chiesa under contract until 2028. Unless a suitor presents a lucrative financial package that reflects today’s market values, Chiesa looks set to stay and fight for his place on Merseyside