Liverpool’s spectacular campaign under Arne Slot has hit a minor subplot, with reports suggesting Federico Chiesa could leave Anfield on loan in January.
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The Reds are thriving under their Dutch head coach, sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League and dominating their Champions League group. Despite this success, Chiesa, signed from Juventus for £12.5 million last summer, has found himself on the fringes of the squad.
Limited to just four appearances this season—only one of which was a Premier League outing—Chiesa’s impact has been hampered by a muscle injury and fierce competition for places. While the Italy international was expected to bolster Liverpool’s attack, his struggles for fitness and adaptation have raised concerns.
According to FootMercato via the Daily Mail, Chiesa is eager to return to Serie A for the remainder of the season but only on a temporary basis. Napoli currently leads the race for his signature, with AC Milan and Fiorentina also interested in securing the 27-year-old.
Chiesa boasts an impressive record in Italy, with 100 goal contributions in 235 Serie A games and a pivotal role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph. However, his Liverpool stint has been overshadowed by limited opportunities and Slot’s reliance on more established stars like Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Slot recently defended the winger, saying:
“You see him on the pitch now; it means he’s getting stronger and better. He had to adapt for quite a long time. I’ve said so many times, as expected if you miss team training sessions for so long and then you go to a league where the intensity is so high as well. He is getting stronger, but he’s also facing a lot of competition in the right-wing position!”
It remains uncertain whether Chiesa will feature in Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League clash against West Ham. For now, the Italian’s future at Anfield hangs in the balance as January approaches.
