Liverpool will get another chance to assess and alter their first-team squad when the transfer window opens in January.
The Reds chose to have a quiet summer in 2024, preferring to keep things ticking over after a change of manager.
That has since proven to be a good decision – or at least not a bad one – with the Liverpool squad roaring to 11 wins out of 12 under Arne Slot.
But while the new Liverpool head coach has had a brilliant start to life at Anfield, the Reds are about to embark on a really tricky run of games.
Liverpool’s fixtures between the end of October and the start of December look incredibly difficult. To make matters even murkier, the Reds are currently missing a handful of players through injury.
One of those to be on the treatment table is Federico Chiesa. Chiesa has not really got going since arriving at the end of August and according to reports in Italy, he could be set for a surprise move in January.
Liverpool could look for Federico Chiesa loan
There had been plenty of excitement surrounding Chiesa’s arrival towards the end of the transfer window, with a general feeling that Liverpool had secured themselves a bargain.
However, Chiesa’s injury record was always seen as a slight barrier and the Italy international has so far proven that to be unfortunately true.
Chiesa has played just 78 minutes across three games for Liverpool, missing the last three with an unspecified knock.
And after Slot refused to be drawn on when the 26-year-old would be back fit before Liverpool played RB Leipzig, Calciomercatio.it have claimed that the Reds are drawing up a plan for Chiesa.
READ MORE: The five injured Liverpool players who all missed training this week
They report that Liverpool are ‘evaluating’ whether or not to send the former Juventus man back to Serie A for a six-month loan deal from January until the end of the season.
Given the slightly less intense nature of the Italian top division, the Reds could reportedly look to get more minutes and rhythm into Chiesa by sending him back to his homeland.
It’s claimed that a ‘symbolic compensation’ would likely be paid to Liverpool, with the Reds ‘taking charge’ of most of the player’s salary. Both Roma and Inter are said to be interested in Chiesa if Liverpool green light this hypothetical plan.
No chance Liverpool let Federico Chiesa leave
While Chiesa’s time at Liverpool has been frustrating so far, it’s also worth saying that he is still only two months into his Reds career.
Alisson Becker called Chiesa ‘wonderful‘ not five weeks ago and it’s clear that Slot is still counting on him.
Of course, Liverpool would much prefer to be able to use Chiesa and it is a slight worry that no timeline has been put on his return.
However, there have been claims that Chiesa will be back ‘sooner rather than later‘ and if he can stay fit from then, there’s absolutely no reason to loan him out.
If he’s available, there are minutes to be had for Chiesa at Liverpool. They wouldn’t have signed him otherwise. Things may be re-evaluated in the summer depending on how it’s gone. But right now, there’s no chance this happens.
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