Liverpool accept sad Federico Chiesa reality

Arne Slot has hit the ground running in Liverpool, and it almost seems like he has had the Midas touch since his arrival in Merseyside.

Liverpool currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League and also remain the only team to won all of their UEFA Champions League matches.

The Reds’ new head coach has won 15 of his opening 17 matches, drawing away to supposed title contenders Arsenal and losing at home to Nottingham Forest, who surprisingly sit fifth in the league.

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But not everything Slot has done since becoming the boss at Anfield has paid off, and many supporters will regard his only transfer window so far as a disappointing one.

In Slot’s maiden transfer window at Liverpool, he only completed one signing, Federico Chiesa, although a deal was also agreed for the future transfer of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join the Reds in the summer of 2025.

Chiesa has only managed 78 minutes of football so far this season, although he did provide an assist in this time, and now reports suggest a January exit could be looming for the Italian.

Chiesa could leave Anfield in January

A report from Calcio Mercato in Italy has revealed that Chiesa could be on his way back to his homeland only six months after making the switch to Merseyside, with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma all interested in the 27-year-old.

The interest of course relies on Chiesa being fit and able to play by January, and all three sides would apparently be looking for a loan deal with an option to buy.

Any team that were to take Chiesa would have to pay the remainder of his wages in full for the rest of the campaign and it is unclear whether Liverpool would sanction a permanent move for the forward.

The report states that Inter are the club who have had the most contact with Chiesa since his departure from Juventus and this suggests they could be the most likely suitors should he be available.

What does this mean for Chiesa’s long-term future?

It appears that Liverpool are starting to accept that Chiesa will only play a minor role this season if he does remain at the club.

A loan move away wouldn’t necessarily signify the end of his Liverpool career and could give him a chance to build his fitness, but it definitely isn’t a sign that Chiesa is ready to break into this Liverpool team.

Even when Chiesa is back fit, the extremely high level of Mohamed Salah’s performances this season means that the opportunity for minutes will be limited, and the bar will be very high if Chiesa does make it onto the pitch.

The fee that the Reds paid for the Italian represented a fairly low risk but to have only seen 78 minutes of play before rumours are swirling about a potential permanent departure will be very disappointing for most Liverpool supporters.

Slot’s plans for Chiesa’s future will become clearer as the January transfer window approaches, but supporters will be hoping they get to see more of Slot’s first signing for Liverpool at some point during his tenure.

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