Liverpool are facing an interesting summer transfer window with plenty of changes expected at Anfield.
The Reds are already beginning to move in the market as they prepare to tie up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong.
Liverpool coaches are excited by Frimpong and look likely to deploy the Dutchman in attack as well as at right-back next season.
With another more attacking player arriving, it could be seen as bad news for Federico Chiesa, who has had an exceptionally quiet season.
Arne Slot opened up on Chiesa’s lack of playing time on Friday, suggesting that the Italian is good enough to play for Liverpool despite his reluctance to test that theory out.
And as it turns out, Slot went even further in his appraisal of Chiesa, claiming that the 27-year-old could be given a chance to prove himself in pre-season. With the door open to an Anfield stay for Chiesa, it looks likely that his future will be tied to that of Luis Diaz.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Luis Diaz out, Federico Chiesa in
It will be fascinating to see whether Slot decides to play Chiesa against Brighton on Monday. The press were pushing the Liverpool head coach to give them some answers ahead of the game.
“Does he have a future here? Yes, definitely he has, yes. Definitely,” Slot said on his No. 14. “I think everyone playing for us over here has a future over here.
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“Next season, if he comes back completely fit, which he has hardly been for the first half-season but then afterwards he became fitter and fitter. The next steps should have been playing time, which I couldn’t give him.
“But I can give him playing time in pre-season, so he can build himself up and then go even further.”
READ MORE: How likely Federico Chiesa is to leave Liverpool as Reds set out surprise stance
With these new suggestions that Chiesa could in fact stay at Liverpool, it’s fairly clear to us that his future is tied to that of Diaz.
Diaz is looking for a new contract at Anfield this summer. However, it still hangs in the balance whether the Colombian will be granted his wish.
Should talks not go as planned, Diaz has interest from Saudi Arabia. If he ultimately ends up leaving, Slot would be wise to fully commit to giving Chiesa a proper chance. But if the No. 7 stays put, it’s hard to see how he forces his way in.
Will Diaz leave Liverpool?
With so much needing to be done in the transfer window for Liverpool, it seems unlikely that three forwards will leave the club.
Darwin Nunez looks almost certain to go; that no longer seems up for debate. But if Diaz also heads for the exit, selling Chiesa would leave Liverpool short, regardless of whether a new striker is signed.
There is a possibility that Liverpool play Frimpong up on the left wing, or that they bring in another player. However, in our opinion, it would be more likely that Chiesa and Cody Gakpo would be Slot’s options for that side of the attack.
Given how many games there are to play, and how much Slot has rotated between Gakpo and Diaz this season, that would leave Chiesa with plenty of chances to make his mark.
It would be a real shame to lose Diaz this summer after such an excellent season with the Reds. But if an agreement on a contract extension can’t be found and a big offer comes in, Liverpool already have his replacement primed and ready to go.