Liverpool forward has FINALLY decided which club he will join
Liverpool are planning to overhaul their forward options during the upcoming transfer window. Sporting director Richard Hughes has already strengthened the right flank with the acquisition of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen but the club won't stop there.
The blockbuster £100m+ transfer for Florian Wirtz is nearing its conclusion - a move which will give the Reds an attacking totem to build around for years to come.
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Hughes and head coach Arne Slot are also seeking to add a new centre-forward, with Alexander Isak, Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike among the players linked.
In order to facilitate these incomings, the Merseyside outfit require departures. Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak and Luis Diaz are among the forward options considered at risk this summer.
And one more title winner looks like he is living his last days as a Liverpool player - despite joining the club less than 12 months ago.
Federico Chiesa tipped to leave Liverpool
Federico Chiesa, 27, moved to Anfield from Juventus back in September in what was seen as an opportunistic deal. The fee for the Italian international could reach £12.5m overall but even at that price the Reds haven't got value out of Chiesa.
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He played only SIX times last season in the Premier League - for a total of 104 minutes - and barely contributed on the starts he was permitted in other competitions.
The writing was on the wall for the Euro 2020 winner back in January, when several Serie A clubs came forward for the 'homesick' forward.
But Chiesa opted to remain for the second half of the season, earning a Premier League winner's medal, and now it looks like his departure is imminent.
Real Betis and AC Milan are reckoned to be keen on his signature but now a clear frontrunner appears to have emerged.
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Federico Chiesa Liverpool 2024-25
Chiesa's priority is Napoli
Italian title winners Napoli are known to be keen on upgrading their forward line this summer having lost Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain back in January.
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Napoli coach Antonio Conte would like to add Chiesa to the ranks, according to reports in Italy, and now it's been claimed that the Diego Maradona Stadium is the player's preference.
"Chiesa would return to Italy,' states Sportitalia journalist Alfredo Padulla. 'If it were up to him, he would go to Napoli, because Conte respects him a lot, because the conditions could be right. Milan also like Chiesa, but his priority is Napoli.'
Previous attempts from Italy to bring Chiesa home came to nothing and that has been attributed to the player's salary demands. With a pay packet reaching a reported £120k per week, the former Fiorentina winger is out of reach for most of the league.
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