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Published December 28, 2024 6:13pm Updated December 28, 2024 6:13pm
Though Liverpool are enjoying unprecedented success under Arne Slot, one player is reportedly looking to leave Anfield in January.
The Reds have lost just one of their first 26 matches under the Dutch head coach, with the club six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand over their rivals.
They also sit top of the Champions League table with a 100 per cent record and are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals where they’ll play Tottenham.
However, while the likes of Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Trent Alexander-Arnold are enjoying stellar campaigns, the same cannot be said for one star.
Federico Chiesa was the only player to move to Anfield over the summer, joining from Juventus in a deal worth up to £12.5million.
While not expected to set England’s top-flight alight, it was thought the versatile attacking midfielder would provide more depth and offer something different to the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo.
That’s not been the case at all however, with Chiesa limited to just four appearances and only one start so far, with his 18 minute cameo against Bournemouth in September his only outing in the Premier League.
A lengthy muscle injury has played a large part in that but though available for two of Liverpool’s last three games, Slot has opted not to use the Italy international.
As such, FootMercato, via the Daily Mail, report that Chiesa is looking to return to Serie A for the rest of the season, but he doesn’t want to leave Merseyside permanently.
Napoli are said to be leading the race to sign the 27-year-old on loan, ahead of AC Milan and his boyhood club Fiorentina.
There is little questioning the ability of Chiesa, who has 100 goal contributions in 235 Serie A appearances and played a starring role in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph, but his fitness and physicality are a concern.
Slot has defended the player however, recently 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, and to a team who plays with a lot of intensity.
‘He is getting stronger, but he’s also facing a lot of competition in the right-wing position!’
It remains to be seen whether the Italian will feature when Liverpool travel to West Ham on Sunday evening.
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