Federico Chiesa looks set to join Liverpool from Juventus before the transfer window shuts.
The Italy winger, 26, is on his way to Liverpool for a medical, with the Reds reportedly paying just £10.9million (€13m) for his services.
In a time of inflated fees, where Oliver Skipps joins Leicester for double that and Julian Alvarez heads to Atletico Madrid for nearly £80m, the relatively small figure for the Euro 2020 winner feels a real bargain.
So how have Arne Slot managed to pull of such a cheap deal? Read on as we take a look at the varying reasons.
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Chiesa injuries
Chiesa joined Juve back in 2020 after a brilliant Serie A breakthrough with Fiorentina and, at the time, was considered one of Italy’s brightest talents.
And after starring in the Azzurri’s triumphant European Championship campaign in 2021, he was one of Europe’s hottest properties, with a host of clubs willing to pay a hefty sum, maybe even four times the one he is now going for.
But a rotten run of injuries since then means his trajectory has not been quite as expected since then and has become almost something of a forgotten man.
His 2021-22 season started well but was then over by January after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Roma, restricted his appearances in Serie A that season to only 14.
He had to wait until November 2022 to return and while he found form, he scored just two goals and provided five assists in 21 games.
Last season, Chiesa looked back to his best, however, featuring in 33 of Juve’s 38 league games, scoring nine goals, before starting all four of Italy’s Euro 2024 games this summer.
🚨🔴 BREAKING: Federico Chiesa to Liverpool, here we go! Agreement done for €13m initial fee with add-ons.
Four year contract for Chiesa as new Liverpool player, set to fly later today.
Chiesa accepted Liverpool immediately. Deal DONE.
Exclusive story confirmed. 🔐🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/Yx7hdQwkd4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2024
Mot in my plans
But while his fitness looks back to what it was, his role in the Juventus team began to become less clear last term.
Under Massimiliano Allegri, he was deployed as one of the strikers alongside Dusan Vlahovic, which proved difficult for a player who does most of his good work out wide.
And after new manager Thiago Motta came in, Chiesa’s days at Juve always looked numbered.
The former Bologna boss has ushered in a younger squad more suited to his playing style this summer and despite still being 26, it appears the 51-cap international does not fall into that category.
Chiesa has just a year remaining on his contract and has made it clear he has little intention of extending his stay in Turin.
The Old Lady therefore need to sell their star this summer in order to avoid losing their star for free and as a result, he has been frozen out of Motta’s first-team squad.
Chiesa has played no part in either of their two league games this season and he now looks to have played his last game for the Italian giants.
Do Liverpool need Chiesa?
Federico Chiesa speaks ahead of his move to Liverpool 🔴 pic.twitter.com/xcpVBVUuCE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 28, 2024
While it looks a smart deal, there is debate over whether Liverpool need to add another forward to their already packed squad.
Slot has inherited a squad which includes vast options such as Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and, of course, Mohamed Salah.
Egyptian star Salah is perhaps the reason Chiesa is coming in, with few of those other options natural right-siders, like Chiesa is.
Salah has scored in each of the Reds’ two Premier League games so far but the 32-year-old’s future is always a cause of speculation.
Chiesa’s arrival not only allows the Reds to plan for life without Salah at Anfield, but also lets them reduce Salah’s minutes as the season goes on – with a natural back-up for their star forward lacking last term.
Cameos off the bench are likely for Chiesa early on but he is a player capable of making a genuine difference, which can only bode well for Slot’s so far promising first season as Anfield.
