Liverpool Transfer News: The Federico Chiesa stats that prove he’s perfect for Slot

 

Francisco Conceicao's move to Juventus this week was the final nail in the coffin for Federico Chiesa's career in Turin. The Italy international was deemed surplus to requirements earlier this summer and the arrival of Conceicao very much spells the ends of his time with the Old Lady. Chiesa has been heavily linked with a Premier League switch this summer, a transfer that could come to fruition in the final knockings of the summer window. 

 

While Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal have each moved to distance themselves from rumours linking Chiesa with a move to the capital, Liverpool could be about to rescue the 26-year-old from Italy. The Reds are closing in on the signing of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia and while a number six was viewed as the priority, Chiesa has since emerged as a serious target for Liverpool. 

 

 

Arne Slot has made a perfect start to life at Liverpool, opening up the campaign with back-to-back 2-0 wins over Ipswich and Brentford, and have looked impressive in both. However, the elephant in the room is the expiring contracts of key trio Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and, crucially, Mohamed Salah. 

 

The latter in particularly has started the campaign superbly, scoring two and assisting one for Slot's side. Now 32, however, Liverpool do need to start contingency planning as they prepare for life post-Salah. In this current setup under Slot, the wingers attack aggressively on both sides, so it's no surprise that Luis Diaz (8.31) and Salah (7.75) are the club's top rated players after both league games so far. 

 

Yet while Liverpool have quality in depth on the left - Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota can all play here - there is little beyond Salah on the right. Yes, Dominik Szoboszlai can operate here, but the Hungarian is better suited through the middle. With a reported £15m price tag - Chiesa's contract does expire next summer - it's a no brainer as Liverpool consider adding another established body to the frontline. 

 

Chiesa, after all, adds the necessary directness to the flank that Slot craves. The Italian averaged a modest 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 in Serie A last season, and backed that up with a 2.2 key passes 90. While he only managed two assists, that says more about the profligacy of his Juventus teammates in 2023/24 rather than Chiesa's output. 

 

Factor in that Chiesa can play on either flank or through the middle - stylistically, he is better suited from the left than the right - and this positional adaptability means he could prove a very smart pickup for a Liverpool side returning to the newly-revamped Champions League. 

 

 

However, there are understandable concerns over Chiesa's long-term fitness. The former Fiorentina man missed most of 2022 owing to a serious knee injury and has endured his fair share of muscular problems that has impacted his hopes of building up consistency for Juventus. Chiesa did start just 25 of 38 league games last season for that reason - though featured in 33 in total - and in this high-octane Slot side, these issues could again rear their ugly head. 

 

Nevertheless, Chiesa won't be coming in as a first team regular under Slot, at least not straight away, and as cover and competition for Salah, he's exactly the sort of winger the Dutchman will utilise superbly. Diaz's strike against Brentford was a superbly finished counter-attack, and it's a blueprint of the type of goal Chiesa would have the knack for netting. 

 

As Liverpool look to finally make moves in the summer market, Chiesa is a result of the focused approach of the Reds' investment in the off-season. Keep him fit for the duration of the campaign, and Liverpool could finally have found their long-term successor for Salah on the right.

Liverpool Transfer News: The Federico Chiesa stats that prove he’s perfect for Slot