Federico Chiesa set for second chance at Liverpool in shock new role after encouraging pre-season display against Preston
Touted for new role
Impressed against Preston
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to David Ornstein, Chiesa could fit into a new role at Liverpool in the 2025-26 campaign after starting as a No.9 in the club's first pre-season friendly against Preston last weekend.
Advertisement
THE BIGGER PICTURE
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Liverpool are short of options in the No.9 role as Darwin Nunez could move out this summer, while Luis Diaz has attracted strong interest from Bayern Munich. The Reds will be willing to let both players leave if the right offers arrive. As a result, selling Chiesa in the summer transfer window is seemingly not an option for the English champions.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chiesa has attracted interest from several Serie A clubs, including Cesc Fabregas-led Como. However, it is unlikely now that the Reds will entertain any offers for the 27-year-old.
WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
The reigning Premier League champions are now scheduled to travel to Asia for their pre-season tour, where they will face AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26, before taking on Yokohama F. Marinos four days later in Japan.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report – Atalanta Hold Out For €50M Offer As Inter Milan Made Final Offer For Nigeria Star
Inter Milan have made their final bid for Ademola Lookman, but Atalanta continue to demand their original valuation for the standout forward. According to Sky Sport via FCInterNews, La Dea will only sanction Lookman's sale for €50 million. Ivan Juric's side turned down Inter's opening bid for the 27-year-old. Indeed, they deemed a €40 million offer insufficient. However, Inter returned with an improved proposal this morning, tabling a €45 million bid. It consists of €40 million to be paid upfront and an additional €5 million in add-ons. Atalanta Playing Hardball Amid Inter Milan Final Offer for Ademola Lookman BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 25: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Parma Calcio 1913 at Gewiss Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by) Ademola Lookman remains Inter's top target. Therefore, the club has shown a willingness to go to great lengths to secure his signature. However, it may not be enough unless they convince the Bergamo outfit to drop their claims. Meanwhile, Lookman has already agreed on personal terms with the Nerazzurri.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report – Atalanta Could Give Inter Milan Discount For Nigeria Stalwart But On One Condition
Atalanta have yet to respond to the final offer made by Inter Milan for their headline forward Ademola Lookman. According to FCInterNews, there's only one way for the Nerazzurri to change La Dea's mind. Indeed, Ivan Juric's charges are open to discussing the transfer fee, but on one condition. They've already informed the San Siro club of their €50 million asking price and unpreparedness to budge on it. However, there's still a small wriggle room. Atalanta Open to Handing Inter Milan Discount for Ademola Lookman TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 09: Ademola Lookman of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by) Inter put forward an improved €45 million offer for Ademola Lookman after seeing their initial approach rejected. Meanwhile, the former Europa League winners are stubbornly holding out for their valuation. However, they're well aware of the 27-year-old's stance and his determined desire to join the Nerazzurri. Therefore, there's still hope for Inter that they could wrap the deal up in the coming days. Yet, it will require another adjustment to their proposal. Indeed, Atalanta will reportedly let Lookman go if they get €45 million upfront plus €2-3 million in add-ons.
New York Times
12 minutes ago
- New York Times
Adam Aznou has long been on Everton's radar and arrives with a rich pedigree
It was during the 2023-24 season that Adam Aznou first appeared on Everton's radar. The former Barcelona youngster shone from full-back as Bayern Munich's B side reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League, beating Manchester United twice along the way. Everton have long monitored such tournaments. Advertisement Alongside full-time scouts based in France and Spain, the club's European senior scout, Phil Boardman, is known to be an active presence at games. The aim was to identify future talents before they hit the senior ranks. But until now, resources in this area have been limited. Almost two years on, Aznou, 19, is now an Everton player. Talks accelerated last week over an initial €9million (£7.8m/$10.4m) move, which contains add-ons. By the weekend, he had been granted permission by Bayern to miss the start of their pre-season to travel for a medical, which he underwent on Monday. Such is the regard he is held in at Bayern, the German champions have insisted on a sell-on clause as part of the deal. Offers came from France and Germany too, but Everton were always in the box-seat and seen as a logical next step in his career. Even at this age, Aznou's talent is in little doubt. Having already played three times for Morocco at senior level, the view in recruitment circles is that Everton have signed one of Europe's top full-back prospects. Aznou = Blue! 🔵 — Everton (@Everton) July 29, 2025 The problem for Aznou at Bayern was that the path to first-team minutes in his favoured left-back position was blocked by Alphonso Davies and Raphael Guerreiro, while the Bavarian club have Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry to call on further forward down that flank. It became obvious this summer that those situations were unlikely to change anytime soon. At least from Aznou's side, then, this move is about ensuring more game time. Having spent the second half of last season on loan at Spain's Real Valladolid, further opportunities are needed to turn his promise into something more tangible. Everton needed left-back cover. The departure of versatile veteran Ashley Young when his contract expired at the end of June left Ukraine international Vitalii Mykolenko as the senior squad's sole specialist on that side. That lack of depth was emphasised on Saturday in the 3-0 defeat to fellow Premier League side Bournemouth on tour in the United States, where injuries in central defence saw Mykolenko moved inside and Dwight McNeil filling in at wing-back. It proved an imperfect solution that brought inevitably poor results. Advertisement Aznou is expected to begin as cover for starter Mykolenko, but there is a feeling he can shoulder some of the burden if needed and develop into someone with a higher ceiling, particularly in attack. As the chart below shows, the teenager is flexible positionally, having featured in more advanced areas at Valladolid. In his time at Bayern, Aznou had stints at right-back — somewhere else Everton currently look light on quality. The hope at Everton is that they turn into a more attacking, front-foot side over time, one that pushes the full-backs on and can control games. It is believed players such as Aznou will be key in helping them achieve this. When he took over midway through last season, manager David Moyes pushed Mykolenko up the field with mixed results. While the 26-year-old produced the odd moment of quality into the box from the left flank, like the ball to set up Carlos Alcaraz's winner in the final-day victory over Newcastle United, he remains better known for his defensive work. In that sense, Aznou should be a useful counterbalance in the squad, bringing different elements to the table. Having been developed in the academy at hometown club Barcelona before joining Bayern in 2022, he is a prolific ball carrier, ranking in the top percentile for dribble volume (measured by dribbles attempted per 100 touches), among full-backs in Europe's top five leagues. With the exceptions of Alcaraz and Iliman Ndiaye, Moyes has lacked players who can progress the ball upfield through carrying or passing. In Aznou, he now has someone who can potentially do both. The teenager's statistics for front-footed defending point to him having an aggressive, proactive style out of possession. His low link-up and ball retention scores are notable, but probably a function of Valladolid's style. They were relegated after finishing bottom of La Liga, and had the fourth-lowest possession share in the 20-team division. Advertisement The other caveat here is that Aznou played just 876 minutes in Spain's top flight last season, and such a sample size is small enough to be prone to statistical variance. That said, those who have tracked his progress since his days in Bayern's youth ranks point to a player keen to express himself in the final third and get his side up the pitch. Much like 22-year-old fellow Everton newcomer Thierno Barry, Aznou has been signed as a talented young player who can contribute now, but whose best years are almost certainly ahead of him. He only turned 19 in early July, so patience will be required as he steps up a level in physicality and adapts to a new country and a different style of play. And there are no sure-fire bets in recruitment, and certainly not with teenagers still making their way in the game. That said, Aznou's arrival addresses a position of need in the Everton squad. And if those UEFA Youth League performances with Bayern — the ones that first piqued their interest — can become the norm in England's top flight too, then they have another exciting prospect on their hands.
