Despite his €15 million (US$17.15m) deal appearing to be a snip, Liverpool are prepared to cash in as Federico Chiesa has failed to live up to expectations.
Chiesa’s performances for club and country have been indifferent since he suffered an ACL injury against AS Roma in January 2022.
His explosive runs down the right flank have been more sporadic following that enforced seven-month layoff. Muscular injuries, related to his initial serious knee injury, dogged him for two seasons at Juventus and now this term at Liverpool.
Limited minutes
Chiesa has featured in just four substitute league appearances for the Premier League table-toppers so far, amounting to only 33 minutes.
He has played two full matches in a Liverpool jersey this campaign, January’s Champions League 3-2 triumph over PSV Eindhoven and February’s shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Championship basement side Plymouth Argyle.
Being unable to cement himself into Slot’s plans this term does not bode well for next season, although half-a-dozen Serie A sides could swoop despite Liverpool aiming to make a swift profit on Chiesa.
Turkish giants Besiktas and Spain side Real Sociedad are among his serious admirers as well as Italian clubs AC Milan, AS Roma, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Lazio and Napoli.
Champions League
Chiesa would undoubtedly prefer a move to a club that is competing in the Champions League next term, which would discount some of his potential suitors.
League leaders Inter are expected to lose attacking duo Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa, allowing Chiesa a golden opportunity to take a starring role.
There will be a change of head coach at AS Roma, with Claudio Ranieri moving into the role of senior advisor to the club’s owners. The former Juve boss may wish to cash in on forwards Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule, whose contracts expire in June 2026, with Chiesa considered to be an ideal replacement.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte, another ex-Juventus chief, could be at a different leading Serie A club for the next campaign. He is an avid fan of Chiesa, but Conte is discontented at Scudetto-chasing Napoli despite being in his first season of a three-year deal.
Conte is being linked with AC Milan, AS Roma and even a return to Juventus. Chiesa would slot into Conte’s plans everywhere except Juve, as they were not happy with the winger’s high salary demands.
Atalanta complication
Atalanta is also a possible next destination for Chiesa. Yet the annual highflyers may lose their long-term boss Gian Piero Gasperini in the summer, as the 67-year-old twice winner of the Serie A Coach of the Year accolade is being linked with the Bianconeri role.
Chiesa only bagged nine Serie A goals for Juventus during his final season in Turin, his highest tally in a campaign, so his potential impact does not warrant a return to Juve.
He was rejected by Thiago Motta for tactical reasons. Chiesa has not been able to prove the since-sacked Juve boss wrong, like many of his former team-mates such as Dean Huijsen at AFC Bournemouth.
If former Italy international ace Chiesa can stay fighting fit next season, and find a top-flight club where his silky skills can be unleashed, then his mercurialness down the wing could be witnessed once more for club and country.