Liverpool's perfect transfer target could be staring them right in the face after it was confirmed by the player's manager that he would have no part to play in the upcoming season.
The Reds are on the hunt for a fresh addition to their attack and Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon appears to be the primary target for Arne Slot and co ahead of the final few weeks of the summer transfer window.
However, the England international is expected to cost an eye-watering sum and, coupled with the fact the Magpies do not want to let him go , is going to be incredibly difficult to sign. Even with just under four weeks on its side, Liverpool will find it far from easy to bring Gordon back to Merseyside.
READ MORE: Federico Chiesa makes transfer decision after Liverpool and Arsenal linked with move
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But the Reds have been linked with a number of other players this summer and one of them has now been told he is free to find a new club. Juventus winger Federico Chiesa has just one year left on his deal and has been told by Thiago Motta he has no place in his side this season.
Speaking to reporters after his club's pre-season friendly against Brest on Saturday, Motta said (as per GOAL ): "Chiesa and all the other players not called up for today’s game are NOT part of the project. We have been clear with them, they have to find a new solution and new club as soon as possible. The decision has been made."
The Italian has been one of his nation's best players in recent years but his Serie A employers are unwilling to offer him a new contract past the end of next season, preferring to sell him for a fee this summer rather than lose him for nothing in 12 months' time.
The 26-year-old has 32 goals and 23 assists in 153 appearances in all competitions for Juventus since joining the club from Fiorentina in 2020, helping the Bianconeri to two Coppa Italia titles and one Supercoppa Italiana in that time. Perhaps, however, he is most notable for helping Italy win Euro 2020 three years ago.
Chiesa featured in all seven of his nation's victories on its way to glory at Wembley, starting four of those games and grabbing two goals in an impressive tournament, whereby his efforts were rewarded with a place in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament.
Last season, Chiesa featured 37 times in all competitions for Juventus and hit the ground running with four goals and one assist in the first five Serie A games of the campaign. However, the Italian has now become surplus to requirement following the arrival of former Bologna boss Motta this summer.
As a result, Chiesa has been linked with a number of clubs in the transfer window, including Liverpool, and is fully expected to depart the Allianz Stadium over the next few weeks. According to Corriere dello Sport , his agent flew to London last week to hold talks with Chelsea over a possible move to Stamford Bridge.
The Reds have been linked with him previously and under Jurgen Klopp in 2022, reportedly had an $110m (£86m/€100m) bid rejected by Juventus for his services. Two years later, however, and it appears Chiesa could be available for up to $90m (£70m/€81m) less than what Liverpool originally offered.
Reports from Italy now claim a fee as little as $17 (£13m/€15m) could tempt Juventus into a sale, meaning Liverpool could grab the winger for a cut-price fee and for considerably cheaper than what they'd be required to pay for Gordon. Chiesa is only a few years older than the Newcastle winger and certainly far more experienced.
However, one thing that stands against Chiesa is his injury record, with many Reds fans citing this as a reason they do not want the club to sign him this summer, especially considering Liverpool has been burned by injury prone players in the past such as Naby Keita and the recently departed Thiago .
Last season, Chiesa picked up five separate injuries that ruled him out for a combined total of 45 days, forcing him to miss 11 games for club and country, as per Transfermarkt . Two of those injuries were also "unknown" issues, raising further concerns over his levels of fitness.
Furthermore, the fact that Juventus is willing to get rid of him also comes across as a bit of a red flag. If Chiesa is not good enough for a team that finished third in Serie A last season, 23 points behind eventual winners Inter Milan, then is he good enough for a team who want to be challenging for the Premier League title?
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