Federico Chiesa seems set to hitch Liverpool from Juventus earlier than the switch window shuts.
The Italy winger, 26, is on his method to Liverpool for a medical, with the Reds reportedly paying simply £10.9million (€13m) for his providers.
In a time of inflated charges, the place Oliver Skipps joins Leicester for double that and Julian Alvarez heads to Atletico Madrid for almost £80m, the comparatively small determine for the Euro 2020 winner feels an actual discount.
So how have Arne Slot managed to drag of such an affordable deal? Learn on as we check out the various causes.
Chiesa accidents
Chiesa joined Juve again in 2020 after a superb Serie A breakthrough with Fiorentina and, on the time, was thought of one in every of Italy’s brightest skills.
And after starring within the Azzurri’s triumphant European Championship marketing campaign in 2021, he was one in every of Europe’s hottest properties, with a number of golf equipment keen to pay a hefty sum, perhaps even 4 instances the one he’s now going for.
However a rotten run of accidents since then means his trajectory has not been fairly as anticipated since then and has develop into nearly one thing of a forgotten man.
His 2021-22 season began nicely however was then over by January after struggling an anterior cruciate ligament in a sport in opposition to Roma, restricted his appearances in Serie A that season to solely 14.
He needed to wait till November 2022 to return and whereas he discovered kind, he scored simply two objectives and supplied 5 assists in 21 video games.
Final season, Chiesa appeared again to his finest, nonetheless, that includes in 33 of Juve’s 38 league video games, scoring 9 objectives, earlier than beginning all 4 of Italy’s Euro 2024 video games this summer time.
🚨🔴 BREAKING: Federico Chiesa to Liverpool, right here we go! Settlement carried out for €13m preliminary price with add-ons.
4 yr contract for Chiesa as new Liverpool participant, set to fly later right now.
Chiesa accepted Liverpool instantly. Deal DONE.
Unique story confirmed. 🔐🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/Yx7hdQwkd4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2024
Mot in my plans
However whereas his health seems again to what it was, his position within the Juventus workforce started to develop into much less clear final time period.
Below Massimiliano Allegri, he was deployed as one of many strikers alongside Dusan Vlahovic, which proved tough for a participant who does most of his good work out extensive.
And after new supervisor Thiago Motta got here in, Chiesa’s days at Juve all the time appeared numbered.
The previous Bologna boss has ushered in a youthful squad extra suited to his enjoying model this summer time and regardless of nonetheless being 26, it seems the 51-cap worldwide doesn’t fall into that class.
Chiesa has only a yr remaining on his contract and has made it clear he has little intention of extending his keep in Turin.
The Previous Girl subsequently have to promote their star this summer time so as to keep away from dropping their star totally free and consequently, he has been frozen out of Motta’s first-team squad.
Chiesa has performed no half in both of their two league video games this season and he now seems to have performed his final sport for the Italian giants.
Do Liverpool want Chiesa?
Federico Chiesa speaks forward of his transfer to Liverpool 🔴 pic.twitter.com/xcpVBVUuCE
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) August 28, 2024
Whereas it seems a wise deal, there may be debate over whether or not Liverpool want so as to add one other ahead to their already packed squad.
Slot has inherited a squad which incorporates huge choices reminiscent of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and, after all, Mohamed Salah.
Egyptian star Salah is maybe the explanation Chiesa is coming in, with few of these different choices pure right-siders, like Chiesa is.
Salah has scored in every of the Reds’ two Premier League video games to date however the 32-year-old’s future is all the time a reason behind hypothesis.
Chiesa’s arrival not solely permits the Reds to plan for all times with out Salah at Anfield, but additionally lets them cut back Salah’s minutes because the season goes on – with a pure back-up for his or her star ahead missing final time period.
Cameos off the bench are doubtless for Chiesa early on however he’s a participant able to making a real distinction, which might solely bode nicely for Slot’s to date promising first season as Anfield.
