Federico Chiesa to hold crunch talks with incoming Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola amid transfer uncertainty.
The future of Liverpool’s fringe Forward Federico Chiesa hangs in the balance. The 28-year-old Italian winger will hold high-stakes discussions with incoming head coach Andoni Iraola regarding his lack of playing time, making a summer transfer away from Merseyside look increasingly likely.
The versatile attacker, who arrived from Juventus in a $16 million (£12 million) deal back in the summer of 2024, has struggled to cement a regular place in the Reds’ starting lineup. The situation reached a nadir in the second half of last season; the forward failed to start a single Premier League fixture in 2026.
Former head coach Arne Slot afforded the Italian merely three appearances across the final seven matches of the campaign, leaving the former Serie A star as an unused substitute on four of those occasions.
Now, speaking openly to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Euro 2020 winner has confirmed he is weighing up his next move.
“If I don’t find consistency, I’ll have to look elsewhere”
Despite the frustration of watching from the sidelines, the 28-year-old winger remains professional but realistic about what the upcoming 2026/27 season must look like for his career.
“If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere,” the Italian international admitted. “I barely played in my first year at Liverpool, and in the last one, very little. I’ll go on a training camp in the US, then I’ll talk to the club and the new manager, Iraola, and we’ll see.”
Statistically, the forward’s contributions have been efficient when given the opportunity, but opportunities have been fleeting. The quick-footed wide-man accumulated just 726 minutes on the pitch last season roughly equivalent to eight full 90-minute matches. Within that limited window, the attacker still managed to chip in with three goals and three assists.
The January block and a Premier League medal
The lack of minutes since the turn of the year was particularly grating for the Gli Azzurri star, who revealed that he had opportunities to depart Anfield during the January transfer window, only for the club to block the move.
“I’ve played very little since the start of 2026,” the 28-year-old explained. “I have a great relationship with Liverpool. In January, the club and Slot told me I couldn’t leave; they needed me, partly for numerical reasons. We were in a tight spot. I understood the situation and I was left smiling. Liverpool is always talked about; last year they helped me win the Premier League.”
While the Italian takes pride in the silverware achieved during his stint in England, his hunger for regular football is eclipsing the prestige of squad rotation at an elite club.
A return to Italy? Juventus and the Como sensation
A return to Serie A appears to be the most probable outcome if the experienced winger and Iraola decide a parting of ways is best for all parties.
Speculation has naturally linked the player with a return to his former club, Juventus, though the Italian also expressed surprise at how the landscape in his homeland has shifted.
Surprisingly, ambitious Serie A outfit Como have emerged as a genuine alternative. Under the guidance of former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, the northern Italian club pulled off a historic campaign to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
“Como? I’m open to anything; the important thing is to play,” the forward said regarding the links. “I’m not so presumptuous as to say: I have to be a starter and ready to fight for a place, anywhere. Fàbregas is a top coach; no one would have ever imagined Como like this: a great team to watch, too.”
However, the 28-year-old didn’t hide his affection for the Bianconeri, adding: “However, I was disappointed that Juve didn’t make it to the Champions League.”
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
As reported by ReadLiverpoolFC, the attacker’s situation presents a fascinating first dilemma for Andoni Iraola. When Liverpool secured the Italian winger for just £12 million in 2024, it was widely lauded as a low-risk, high-reward piece of business to provide elite cover for a star-studded front line.
However, a return of just over 700 minutes across a grueling season proves that the 28-year-old has been firmly frozen out of the first-team picture. For a player of his international pedigree, 2026 has been a year to forget on a personal level.
With a new tactical era dawning under Iraola, the forward is well within his rights to demand clarity. If the incoming Basque manager cannot guarantee the Italian a prominent role in his high-pressing system, a romantic return home whether to a rebuilding Juventus or Fàbregas’ high-flying Como feels like the best resolution for a player who simply needs to play.
