Liverpool are preparing for a winter transfer window that promises to be eventful both in terms of incoming transfers and potential outgoings with a few players’ futures on the line.
The Merseyside giants want to bring in a defensive midfielder in the winter window and are prepared to part-fund the move by selling Wataru Endo who has been a bit-part player under Arne Slot this season.
Liverpool are also open to loan offers for young midfielder Tyler Morton who has been linked with a move to Leeds United in the middle of the season.
Federico Chiesa’s future at Liverpool has come under the scanner following Arne Slot indicating that he is not pleased with the summer signing’s fitness levels.
The winger has featured just three times this season and has not been fit enough to play since before the international break this month.
There is no timeline for his return at the moment and there are suggestions that the player could be allowed to leave on loan in the winter transfer window.
The Liverpool stance on the exit talk clarified
Chiesa has been linked with a loan move to Italy where Inter Milan, AC Milan and Roma would be interested in him if he becomes available.
His fitness issues have raised alarm bells inside Anfield and Slot admitted that he needs to do more to match the intensity levels of his new teammates.
However, according to TEAMtalk, he is not expected to leave Liverpool on loan in the January transfer window.
Sources have indicated that despite having suitors in Italy, it is improbable the player would return to his homeland in the next couple of months.
Chiesa is fully focused on getting back to full fitness and proving his worth by succeeding at Anfield.
Liverpool are in the market for a winger due to the doubts over Mohamed Salah’s long-term future. However, the Italian wants to prove to Slot that he could be the player to fill the void if the Egyptial leaves next summer.
Does he have a long-term future at Anfield?
Chiesa had a poor European Championship and Juventus were more than happy to move him on when Liverpool made a play for him in the summer.
The Reds felt that he was a good gamble for a relatively modest fee given the potential the winger had shown previously in his career.
However, just 78 minutes of football in three appearances so far do not paint a pretty picture for a player who was looking to rekindle his career on Merseyside.
He was on the downward curve in Italy over the last couple of years but there were hopes that a move to Liverpool would revitalise him.
Chiesa is now facing an uphill battle to convince Slot and the fans that he was a gamble worth taking in the summer.
