James Pearce confirms Liverpool forward WILL stay after remarkable U-turn
The club's sporting director Richard Hughes has spent big money on Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike while also overseeing outgoing deals for Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.
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There could be more action in the window with Alexander Isak still being eyed by the Reds' top brass. Also, players like Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott could be shown the exit as Hughes and Arne Slot seek to recoup as much money as they can in sales.
🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range
One other player tipped to depart this summer has been Federico Chiesa. The Italian international can call himself a Premier League champion having played his part in last season's title win but overall it was a disappointing campaign on a personal level.
Liverpool change their minds over forward deal
Chiesa was injured when he signed from Juventus - and he never really found his groove.
According it's been speculated that he would return to Serie A and there have been several teams linked with Atalanta, AC Milan and Napoli among those most frequently mentioned.
But now it appears that the 27-year-old has earned himself a second chance under head coach Arne Slot.
No serious bids for Chiesa
Chiesa's fate looked sealed when he was left out of the touring party for the preseason tour in Asia.
But he was included on the bench for the season opener against Bournemouth. And with Liverpool requiring a goal, Slot turned to the Italian. He duly delivered - with Chiesa's first-ever Premier League strike putting the Reds 3-2 up late in the game at Anfield.
His cameo has led to talk over what might happen before the end of the transfer window.
And while Italian sources have always been consistent in their belief that either Milan or Napoli would strike, it's been confirmed by the Athletic's James Pearce that Liverpool are STILL awaiting a substantial bid for Chiesa.
© IMAGO - Federico Chiesa Liverpool
'The expectation was that Chiesa would also move on, but for all the rumours about a possible return to Italy, Liverpool haven't received one serious offer,' the report reads.
'Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club's pursuit of Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, Liverpool should be keeping hold of Chiesa as cover.
'Offloading him at this stage of the window would make little sense. He should be given the opportunity to build on this.'
Chiesa might now go on and prove himself to be a useful rotation option as well as an understudy for Mo Salah. It's taken Chiesa a while to reach this point but Friday night perhaps suggested he had finally arrived.
Either Italian suitors are going to have to stump up the requisite fee and wages or else it's increasingly likely Chiesa will be staying after all against the odds.
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