Liverpool’s Stance on Federico Chiesa Transfer: Two Key Conditions

Federico Chiesa, the Italian winger who joined Liverpool from Juventus in August 2024 for £10 million plus add-ons, is attracting interest from his former club for a January return. Despite becoming a cult hero at Anfield with a popular fan song, Chiesa has struggled for minutes under manager Arne Slot, logging just 21 appearances, 527-529 minutes, two goals, and three assists this season.^[1][3][5]

Juventus has made informal contact proposing a loan deal, ideally with an obligation to buy tied to Chiesa's appearances, positioning him as backup to Kenan Yildiz. Reports from Italian outlets like TuttoSport suggest the deal is "practically ready," with formal communication expected. Chiesa, 28 and in his prime, is reportedly willing to take a pay cut from his €6 million annual Liverpool salary to facilitate the move, having even contacted former teammates.^[1][3][5]

However, Liverpool's stance is firm: they will not sanction a temporary exit. Journalist James Pearce of The Athletic reveals the Reds have "all but ruled out" a loan, demanding a significant permanent offer at minimum recouping their investment, plus time to secure a suitable replacement. This caution stems from attacking depth issues, exacerbated by injuries to players like Isak (out until March) and Ekitike (recent hamstring recovery).^[1][3]

While Juventus prefers a performance-based buy clause, Liverpool insists on a mandatory buy option in any deal. With Chiesa's contract running until 2028 and limited starts behind Mohamed Salah, his Anfield days may be numbered—but only if these conditions are met. Talks continue, but Liverpool prioritizes squad stability amid their title push.^[1][3][4][5]

(Word count: 298)