Federico Chiesa’s Time At Anfield Could Be Nearing Its End

A crowded attack leaves little room

Liverpool’s forward line has changed shape quickly over the past year, and Federico Chiesa is starting to look like the player most likely to be squeezed out of it. Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz arrived after Mohamed Salah’s exit, Alexander Isak has found his feet, and under Andoni Iraola the competition for places in the final third has only sharpened. Add Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas into that mix and it becomes obvious why Chiesa’s path to regular minutes has narrowed rather than widened.

We were genuinely excited when Chiesa signed from Juventus in 2024 for £12.5m. The pedigree was obvious and the profile suited a team wanting more directness in behind the front line. In practice though, injuries and disrupted form meant he never settled into the kind of consistent run that lets a player show what he can really do, and even when opportunities came they tended to be brief.

Italian interest building

According to Tuttomercato, AC Milan and Lazio have made enquiries about Chiesa’s situation, while Inter are also said to be keeping tabs on him after showing interest previously. The suggestion is that Liverpool and the player are expected to discuss his future, with a January departure a genuine possibility rather than just speculation.

Our reading is that any move would likely be shaped by financial reality in Italy rather than straightforward preference. A permanent sale looks difficult to arrange quickly given his wages and the value Liverpool would want to protect, which is why an initial loan with an option to buy looks like the most realistic structure for any of the three interested clubs. That kind of deal protects the buying side against his fitness record while still letting Liverpool move the situation along without a long drawn out negotiation over a full fee. Inter’s position may also hinge on other business, with their ongoing Luis Henrique situation still unresolved.

Our view on letting him go

This outcome has felt inevitable for a while now. Chiesa arrived with real quality and a strong reputation, and there was genuine anticipation about what he could add, but Liverpool have rarely given him the sustained run of games needed to settle. Every time a window seemed to open for him, something got in the way, whether injury, timing, or simply the squad evolving around him.

What makes it frustrating is that the player himself is clearly still there somewhere. Direct running, a willingness to go at defenders one on one, and a readiness to take responsibility in the final third are all qualities Liverpool fans would value. But the attack is being rebuilt around players with clearer momentum right now, and there is no real case for keeping a player in limbo when three clubs are showing genuine interest. If AC Milan, Lazio or Inter come forward with something sensible, Liverpool should take it.