Liverpool boss Arne Slot 'makes decision on Federico Chiesa's future' amid interest from Serie A giants
The Reds are looking thin in the forward department and while many expected Chiesa to be among the departures, reports in Italy suggest otherwise.
Chiesa, Cody Gakpo, Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike are currently Liverpool's frontline options for the forward spots, with young Rio Ngumoha backing up.
The tragic death of Diogo Jota and sales of Nunez and Diaz mean Slot's answer on selling Chiesa is 'unequivocal', according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
They say he is needed by the club but the situation could yet change depending on Liverpool's incomings in the final 20 days of the transfer window.
Both Napoli and Inter Milan are the Serie A giants considered most likely to move for the former Juventus man.
The protracted pursuit of Alexander Isak is one to keep a close eye on, with the Reds expected to test Newcastle's resolve with a second bid if given encouragement.
And there is also interest in PSG winger Bradley Barcola, who as it stands appears unlikely to leave the French champions.
Chiesa stayed behind while Liverpool were on their pre-season tour in Asia, with many considering his absence as an indication of a move away.
But the Italian was dealing with muscular issues back on Merseyside and he was an unused substitute for the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
Chiesa was Liverpool's only arrival last summer but it was a frustrating campaign for the winger.
Fitness issues and difficulty breaking into the starting line-up meant his game time was severely limited.
There were flashes of his undoubted talent, including a goal in the League Cup final, but he was also part of the dismal FA Cup exit against Plymouth.
If Liverpool are unable to sign any more attackers this transfer window, Chiesa seems likely to stay at Anfield and have the chance to give a greater account of himself this term.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tuesday's briefing: Grealish set for Everton loan and Palace lose Europe appeal
Jack Grealish appears to be heading to Everton while Crystal Palace are to play in the Europa Conference League after losing their appeal against demotion from the Europa League. Meanwhile Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is potentially set to depart Paris St Germain this summer. City give green light to Grealish loan Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal with Manchester City for out-of-favour England international Jack Grealish. The PA news agency understands the 29-year-old was due to undergo a medical with the Merseyside club on Monday. Grealish, signed by City in a then British record £100million deal four years ago, will hope the move can rejuvenate his career in a World Cup season. He made just seven Premier League starts after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium last season and was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in the summer. Palace fail in CAS appeal Crystal Palace have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League. The FA Cup winners were relegated to the continent's third-tier competition by European governing body UEFA after it determined that American businessman John Textor had 'decisive influence' at both Palace and Lyon after March 1. Nottingham Forest – who travel to Selhurst Park on August 24 – are expected to take the Europa League place. A CAS statement read: 'The panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, had shares in CPFC and OL (Olympique Lyon) and was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date.' Old Trafford protest on hold A Manchester United supporters' group has postponed a demonstration against the club's ownership planned for the day of their opening game of the Premier League season. The 1958 group had organised a protest march to Old Trafford on August 17, ahead of United's clash with Arsenal, with banners referring to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe . Previous demonstrations have focused on unpopular majority shareholders the Glazers but frustration has now spread to Ratcliffe, who has made series of controversial changes since acquiring a 28.94 per cent stake in United and taking charge of operations last year. However, after conducting a survey, the group has acknowledged opinion is split and the time is not right for a protest. A statement read: 'It's clear there is no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. We believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium.' Clubs on Donnarumma alert Gianluigi Donnarumma is open to a move away from Paris St Germain this summer but will not be pushed out by the French club, the PA news agency understands. The Italy goalkeeper has been left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, and it is understood he will now leave Paris this summer if the right move opens up. Manchester United have been linked with the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, but it is understood there has been no contact. The European champions completed the signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the weekend. What's on today? Rangers take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech city. The first round of the Carabao Cup also gets under way, featuring clubs from the EFL.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
This sport has a self-confessed safety problem - could flashing mouthguards be the answer?
Rugby chiefs have admitted to Sky News their sport is not "incredibly safe" due to the "high risk of injuries", while insisting players should be encouraged they are prioritising addressing concussion concerns. The candour on the dangers from head collisions comes ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup starting in England next week. At that tournament, for the first time at a World Cup, smart mouthguards will flash red if they detect potential concussions that require further assessment by measuring the force and movement from a head impact. "We could stick our head in the sand and pretend something doesn't exist, but that's not going to help anybody," World Rugby science and medical manager Dr Lindsay Starling told Sky News. "It is a sport that has a high risk of injuries and that comes from the physical contact nature of the game, which is also what we all love about watching it. And so that can't be ignored. "We can't pretend that the sport is incredibly safe and there's no risk of injury. And so by creating more awareness when there has been a substantial head knock, that's important to educate people." There is an expectation one player per match could be removed due to potential head injury at the World Cup, which opens with England playing the US in Sunderland next Friday. Players would then leave the pitch for a head injury assessment. Footage is then analysed to see how steady players are after the impact. Then they would be asked a series of questions to test memory and concentration. Players are asked to remember words from a list read out and to repeat numbers in a different sequence. A critical time for rugby Rugby being so candid about the potential risks from head injuries comes as the sport is facing legal action from more than 700 mostly male former players who claim leaders were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from brain injuries. The case is progressing slowly with challenges, including around historic medical records. "Concussion is obviously incredibly serious," Dr Starling said at the England team HQ at Twickenham. "It's absolutely our number one priority in terms of understanding why they happen and doing what we can to reduce that. "The other side of that argument, though, is that we know this information. It would be more scary or more of a worry if we didn't know that." World Rugby believes female players are more susceptible to being concussed than their male counterparts but at "much lower magnitudes". They are still exploring why. It could be due to physical differences in neck strength and blood flow metabolic rates, or it could combine with female players accessing more technical training later on. Parental concern over women's game But how does the spectre of brain injuries chime with the mission of the World Cup to super-charge the women's game in England, by expanding the audience and encouraging youngsters to play? Especially with those flashing mouthguards warning of potential concussions. Dr Starling admits it creates a concern. But to parents doubting whether their children should take up rugby, there's an attempt to offer some reassurances from those overseeing safety, citing enhanced technology. "We've never been in a situation where we know more about what the risk is," World Rugby chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey told Sky News. "That will improve over time, so our job is to give parents the autonomy to make a decision that they can about their daughter's playing. Ferocity at the heart of rugby "If their daughter wants to play, we want to help them arrive at a decision that they're happy with the level of exposure the daughter has and what they can do about it. "There's a lot of health dangers from not being involved in sport. Physical inactivity is the biggest health concern in the Western world right now. "So being involved with team sport has huge benefits." And Prof Falvey emphasised the essence of rugby is, at times, the ferocity. "It's a contact sport," he said. "Nobody shies away from that fact. I think people who play the game play it because they want to play contact sports. Our job is to make that game as safe as we can."
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Spain federation approves plan to move Villarreal v Barcelona La Liga match to Miami
Barcelona and Villarreal could be set to contest the first European league match held in the United States after the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved a La Liga plan to hold one of the teams' games this season in Miami, Florida. La Liga proposed the measure to the RFEF on Monday. With the RFEF's approval, the matter now requires the approval of Fifa, Uefa, and the host federation and confederation (US Soccer and Concacaf, respectively). The match in question was due to be played at Villarreal's home ground, the Estadio de la Cerámica, on 21 December. The proposed moving of the fixture will bring it to Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are due to host the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium on 21 December, so it's likely that the date of the La Liga fixture will need to be moved. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion The plan was made possible by the dismissal of the lawsuit brought by Relevent Sports, a US-based events promoter, against Fifa and the US Soccer Federation. Notably, Relevent was founded and is owned by Stephen Ross, a real estate developer and the owner of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. Relevent had initially sued Fifa and US Soccer in 2019 after attempting to hold a La Liga match in Miami the previous year – a proposal that US Soccer refused to sanction on account of a Fifa statute barring domestic league games from taking place away from their home territory. Relevent sued, contending the policy violated the United States' Sherman Antitrust Act – an 1890 piece of legislation designed to combat monopolies. Fifa and Relevent eventually settled their case with the understanding that Fifa would revisit the statute. The sides settled the case without prejudice, allowing Relevent the option of reopening litigation. Relevent made its name by hosting a number of pre-season events in the US featuring big-name European clubs. This year the organization signed a six-season deal with Uefa to be its global marketing and sales partner for men's club competitions, giving it the ability to sell rights to the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
