Liverpool masterplan to solve Federico Chiesa conundrum revealed

Liverpool’s ONLY signing of the season is not faring too well.

Federico Chiesa arrived at the club at the tail end of the summer transfer window from Juventus for a fee that could reach £12 million.

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Seen as a savvy piece of business, the 27-year-old came to Anfield as a Euro 2020 winner and off the back of a Coppa Italia victory with the Bianconeri.

A winger by trade, Chiesa was expected to provide back-up for Mohamed Salah and also cover other positions across the attack.

He was not fully up to speed when he joined, requiring some extra sessions to get match fit, but he has been a marginal figure at best throughout the first half of the season.

Chiesa has only played FOUR times under Arne Slot and only once in the Premier League. He has lost his place in the Italy squad with his career now very much at a crossroads.

No January loan deal for Chiesa

Anfield Watch revealed the depth of Chiesa’s struggles with the player homesick, unhappy with the weather and the physicality of English football. Moreover, it is also understood he has not impressed in training.

With no breakthrough coming at Liverpool, it had been suggested that the 27-year-old could head back to Serie A in January. Clubs like Atalanta, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Fiorentina have all been linked with his signature but wages would appear to be a sticking point.

But above all it’s Napoli under Antonio Conte who have been identified as favourites to land Chiesa.

However, his agent, Fali Ramadani poured cold water on reports linking his client with Napoli, stating to 365Scores earlier this week: “Napoli did not negotiate a contract with Chiesa from Liverpool in the winter period, and the club has no intention of dispensing with the player.

“The player is continuing with Liverpool and is seeking the opportunity to participate in the coming period. This is what I can confirm now.”

And now those reports appear to have been backed up by a report in the Athletic, which suggests the Reds will NOT be loaning Chiesa out this winter.

“Federico Chiesa has been linked with a loan move to Napoli but Liverpool have no intention of sanctioning a temporary switch for the Italy international who they only signed in the summer. Arne Slot is counting on Chiesa for the second half of the season,” a report states.

That could however leave it open for Chiesa to move on a permanent deal should any interested parties manage to get the funds together. Chiesa is under contract until 2027 and it would likely require a bigger bid than the £12m Liverpool paid to sign him.

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