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Liverpool’s £12.5million signing of Federico Chiesa will prove to be the ‘signing of the transfer window’, Micah Richards believes.
Arne Slot had a quiet first summer at Anfield, only signing two new players: goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili who was immediately loaned back to Valencia and Chiesa.
The versatile attacker arrives from Juventus in a deal worth £10m, plus £2.5m in add-ons, with a great reputation, having scored 34 goals and made 26 assists for the Italian giants over the last four years.
He was also pivotal for Italy in their Euro 2020 triumph and was once valued at £100m.
But given some of his struggles at Juventus as well as his concerning injury record, there has been some debate over whether Liverpool have pulled of a coup or not, but Richards is firmly in the former camp.
‘Not only can he play on the left wing, he can play on the right wing, you could play him in a wing back system, you could play him at right back if need be. He’s so versatile and he’s got electric pace,’ the Manchester City icon said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘Having watched Serie A, I think at times the game was a little bit closed. I think in the Premier League because the game is stretched, he’ll have more space.
‘We’re judging him recently off international football and playing in Serie A where defenders love to defend and it’s all about the tactics. Over here it’s more about the passion and the speed and the power. I think it suits [him].
‘He didn’t have a bad season last year, he still got nine goals in the league. Why I think it’s such a great buy is the money they paid for him which is £12.5million.
‘I think he’s going to be the signing of the transfer window in terms of… you’re not spending £50million for him. Two or three seasons ago he was worth £100million.’
Alan Shearer agrees that Chiesa’s bargain transfer fee makes it a very good deal for Slot, even if the 26-year-old fails to deliver.
‘I think it’s a no brainer for the fee. It’s a punt, it’s a gamble but it’s one that’s without a doubt worth taking,’ the Premier League legend added.
‘If it works, great and it looks amazing business. If it doesn’t, then it’s £12million. In the grand scheme of things for clubs nowadays that’s nothing.
‘It’s a great punt from Liverpool. If they can get him fit, if they can get him right then they’ve got a very, very good player.’
Chiesa could make his Liverpool debut after the international break, with the Reds taking on Nottingham Forest on September 14.
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