International manager says £12.5m Liverpool player has told him he’s not fully fit

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Liverpool can now get their season fully underway since the summer transfer window is finally closed.

It was anything but a quiet deadline day for the Reds, with Alexander Isak finally confirming his £125million Anfield switch after a summer of back and forth between the Reds and Newcastle.

Marc Guehi was also set to join Arne Slot’s men, but since Crystal Palace couldn’t find a replacement for the Englishman in time, the Eagles’ captain ended up staying put.

However, now that the window is closed, it means that all the players can get used to playing alongside one another and hopefully end up gelling with the first-team squad, perhaps coming back after the international break a bit stronger.

Federico Chiesa has told Gennaro Gattuso that he wasn’t 100% fit

One player who did end up staying as a Liverpool player this season is Federico Chiesa.

At the start of the transfer window, it felt almost certain that the Italian was going to depart due to a lack of game time, that is, even though he was only brought in for a fee worth around £12.5million.

However, after the Reds chose to sell both Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, it meant that there were a lot more opportunities for the attacker to play.

And, even though Isak and Hugo Ekitike have been brought in, there are still only five senior attackers among Slot’s ranks.

But, while speaking in his press conference, Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso admitted that Chiesa wasn’t fully fit.

“I spoke with Chiesa, he didn’t feel 100% ready,” in quotes relayed by Sky Italy journalist Gianluca di Marzio.

Gennaro Gattuso believes that more Italian players should be playing in the Serie A after Giovanni Leoni’s move to Liverpool

One of the most interesting signings that Liverpool made this summer was the addition of 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni.

The centre-back played a key role in Parma’s squad last season and, even though he hasn’t been given a chance to play by Slot yet, it’s only a matter of time before he is.

Leoni is 6’4 and from the pictures that the Anfield outfit have released of him thus far, he looks like an absolute unit.

Indeed, it was sad that the Reds missed out on Guehi this summer, but if it means that Leoni will be given more game time, it might be for the best.

Gattuso gave his thoughts on Leoni’s move to Liverpool and shared what he thinks about so many Italians playing abroad.

“Leoni is young and is coming to the Premier League with a fair valuation. Raspadori, too, we have many Italians abroad,” he said in quotes relayed by Sky Italy journalist Gianluca di Marzio.

“We’re not in a bad position, perhaps only a few Italians are playing, as the latest negative record suggests. Now, however, we need to focus on getting the best out of our players.

“I hope to see more Italians in our league, though.”

Only time will tell whether Leoni and Chiesa will get a chance to prove themselves this term, but, with how long and gruelling a Premier League season actually is, it’s hard to see why they wouldn’t.