Liverpool transfer decision clear as impact of Marc Guehi move collapse felt

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Federico Chiesa, who had to be left out of Liverpool's Champions League, is subject of interest from Turkey(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Behind the screeching headlines of Federico Chiesa's omission from Liverpool's Champions League squad, was a much more simple explanation.

The decision to leave the Italian out of the 23-man squad for the European campaign was met with the raising of eyebrows from some supporters, who feel the frontman could have been a useful option for the campaign ahead.

Having reshaped the forward line this summer following the decisions to allow both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez to depart, it had been assumed that Chiesa was set to step up in seniority and responsibility at Anfield, having barely featured in his maiden campaign.

And with the wind from one of the catchiest terraces anthems in recent years in his sails, the 27-year-old has looked sharp in his cameos so far, particularly against Bournemouth, when he expertly volleyed in a late goal in the 4-2 win.

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However, the decision to leave him out of the squad for the European campaign, on the face of it, looks like a head coach who is still far from convinced by the former Juventus man in Arne Slot.

That, perhaps, is why Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas have been linked with a move before their own transfer window shuts on September 12.

The Istanbul club have reportedly reached out to Liverpool in exploratory talks about a deal before their period for player trading ends.

But Chiesa has simply been a victim of circumstances.

Had Marc Guehi been signed on transfer deadline day, as the Reds tried to do, then the Euro 2020 winner would have been free to play a part in the Champions League group stage.

The 11th-hour breakdown of Guehi's move meant Rio Ngumoha had to take the final homegrown spot in the 23-man group instead.

UEFA's registration rules allow each team a maximum of 25 in their main 'List A' squad.

That includes a minimum of eight places reserved exclusively for what the governing body deems as 'locally-trained' or 'homegrown players' - those trained by their club or another in the same national association for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

That leaves 17 places to non-homegrown players - and with Liverpool having 18 such members of their squad, it was impossible to include everyone, meaning Chiesa was the player who was deemed as the most dispensable once England defender Guehi stayed at Crystal Palace.

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With Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike added to the frontline this summer to supplement Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and 17-year-old Ngumoha, Chiesa was forced to miss out.

That, though, does not mean the Reds are willing to allow him to leave and interest from Besiktas has been given the short shrift at Anfield, with Slot and his staff keen to keep him around for the campaign ahead.

Chiesa is yet to scale anywhere near the heights that marked him out as the star of the Azzurri four years ago but his quality and experience will be needed at times across the course of a long campaign that sees Liverpool fighting on four fronts, three of which will be played this month in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Chiesa will need plenty of minutes and momentum to get back to those levels of 2021, when he was one of the star men for Italy as they won the delayed European Championship but discarding him on loan to Turkey would needlessly stretch Slot's options up top.

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Allowing Chiesa to depart - or indeed thrusting a move upon him - would make little sense at this stage.