Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool future is already being framed by the January transfer window, with a report claiming the club could put him on the market if he does not force his way into Andoni Iraola’s side. For a player who has made just two Premier League starts in two seasons, the message is clear: the next few months may decide whether he stays or goes.
Chiesa joined Liverpool from Juventus in 2024 in a deal worth £12.5 million, but his time at the club has not yet taken off in the way many expected. He was ruled out at the start of the season with a small muscle injury, and this week Jack Lusby said Chiesa had resumed parts of training at the AXA and should now be fit for selection. Even so, the same update suggested he may already be behind Lewis Koumas in the pecking order.
The January question
The key issue is not whether Chiesa has ability. It is whether he can get himself back into the picture quickly enough to matter. Liverpool have included Chiesa and Wataru Endo in their 25-man Premier League squad, but both were left out of their Champions League group, which underlines how uncertain the situation already is.
Calciomercato reported that Chiesa will be put on the market in January if he does not break into the team, with Liverpool’s current aim to raise at least €15 million from his sale. The report also said clubs in Italy, including Napoli and Inter, are among those that could be interested, though his salary is an obvious factor at around €7 million net per season.
A difficult fit at Liverpool
Jamie Carragher has already hinted at the frustration around squad players who do not look likely to feature regularly. He said Liverpool have “got two players in the squad who are never going to play,” adding that Endo should have been moved on, though he also described the midfielder as “a cult hero”.
That broader point applies to Chiesa as well. Liverpool do not appear to be in a position where they can carry passengers, especially with important fixtures coming after the international break, including the potential meeting with Manchester City. If Chiesa is to change the conversation, he needs minutes, sharpness and a clear route into the side.
For now, the story is simple. Liverpool may still want Chiesa to succeed, but if he cannot force his way in, January could become the moment when the club decide to move him on.
