Why do Liverpool want Federico Chiesa – and would he be a good fit?

It was one of many summer time’s extra stunning switch tales.

The information that Liverpool are exploring a doable deal for Juventus and Italy attacker Federico Chiesa, who is out there for round €15million (£12.7m; $16.7m) as a result of 26-year-old solely having a yr left on his contract, appeared to return out of nowhere.

But there may be logic to Liverpool’s curiosity. Right here, we clarify why and the way Chiesa may slot in at Anfield.

Why do Liverpool need cowl on this place?

Liverpool have been contemplating bringing in one other extensive ahead all summer time. They have already got 5 superb attacking choices in Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez. Chiesa, who favours the proper facet of the pitch, would add skilled depth behind Salah with new head coach Arne Slot to this point utilizing Jota and Nunez because the central striker and Diaz and Gakpo on the left.

Salah’s excellence and sturdiness imply Liverpool haven’t wanted a particular backup for the right-winger position, with left-winger and the No 9 because the common rotation spots beneath earlier supervisor Jurgen Klopp. This might recommend that, with Salah now 32 years outdated, Liverpool need to reinforce their ahead line to rotate the Egypt worldwide extra typically to maintain him as recent as doable.

What does Slot need from a large ahead?

Wingers are key in Slot’s system. He likes them to be unpredictable and powerful of their one-on-one duels, able to carrying and progressing the ball whereas linking up with team-mates.

He’s completely satisfied for them to float inside, permitting the facet’s full-backs to overlap, however low crosses from the byline are additionally a characteristic in his system. Chiesa could have endured a tough season in 2023-24, however he’s a flexible ahead who would seem to suit that profile.

Chiesa’s harm historical past can be a slight concern. He suffered an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in his knee throughout 2021-22, which considerably set him again, however he solely missed six video games for Juventus final season resulting from harm. Availability has turn into an more and more vital attribute at Anfield, with Liverpool eager to keep away from repeats of different signings who’ve been dogged by health issues.

Nonetheless, Slot has had an excellent harm prevention document at his earlier golf equipment and the hope is that it may well proceed for Liverpool beneath the steerage of lead bodily efficiency coach Ruben Peeters. Chiesa is unlikely to be an everyday starter if he does signal, so theoretically could possibly be managed accordingly.

Who else have Liverpool been linked with?

On the finish of June, with Newcastle beset by revenue and sustainability issues, the chance emerged to signal Anthony Gordon.

A deal was in place for the 23-year-old Liverpudlian to maneuver to Anfield for £75million, with defender Joe Gomez heading within the different course for £45m, however a deal didn’t materialise.

Liverpool’s curiosity in Gordon, who predominantly performs on the left, elevated hypothesis round the way forward for Diaz. Rumours linking the Colombian to Barcelona have swirled all summer time, however no supply has been forthcoming for the 27-year-old, who has three years left on his contract. Slot sees Diaz as key to his plans.

What may this imply about Salah’s future?

Chiesa can function on each flanks however predominantly performs on the proper, so would face an virtually unattainable battle to usurp Salah this season.

Salah’s longer-term future, nevertheless, stays doubtful. The Egyptian is within the final yr of his contract, turns 33 subsequent summer time and talks have but to start over a renewal. However he has began the season in superb kind with two targets and an help in his opening two video games.

Salah is out of contract on the finish of this season (Michael Regan/Getty Photos)

If Liverpool signal Chiesa, it might not be affirmation that this will likely be Salah’s closing season on Merseyside. Nonetheless, it could recommend succession planning is underway in case a contract extension is just not agreed.

How Chiesa may assist Liverpool

This deal could appear extra like a market alternative, given the reported payment and Chiesa’s age (he turns 27 in October) however there may be an fascinating tactical angle to it.

Over the course of his profession, Chiesa has performed all three positions in assault. Liverpool have loads of cowl on the left however may do with options to Salah on the proper, and the Italian could be a top quality addition.

Of their first two Premier League matches of this season, Liverpool have proven a marginal choice to assault down the left, recording 37 per cent of their attacking touches on that flank in comparison with 34 per cent on the proper. It follows a development from final season when 36 per cent of Liverpool’s attacking touches within the league got here on their proper, down from 39 per cent in 2022-23.

A part of the explanation for this has been Salah’s transformation from a high-volume dribbler into an improved passer. His 2.7 take-on makes an attempt and 35 per cent success price within the 2023-24 Premier League have been his lowest in a full season since he joined Liverpool in summer time 2017. Nonetheless, his 5.2 progressive passes per 90 quantity was his highest in that metric throughout his Anfield profession.

Not a lot has modified on this regard to this point beneath Slot, with Salah trying simply 4 take-ons however taking part in 11 progressive passes throughout these first two league outings in opposition to Ipswich City and Brentford, in addition to contributing targets and assists.

Whereas Chiesa doesn’t carry the identical risk, he provides a ball-carrying profile nearer to the Salah of outdated.

The Italian has phenomenal shut management with each toes, which makes it tough for defenders to mark him.

Within the clip under, in opposition to Albania throughout Euro 2024 this summer time, he feigns an inward run, cuts exterior, after which goes inside as soon as the closest defender commits, earlier than discovering room between two opponents to cross along with his left foot in the direction of Lorenzo Pellegrini, who mistimes his acrobatic try at scoring.

Chiesa’s smarterscout pizza chart – which supplies gamers’ video games a sequence of rankings from zero to 99 primarily based on both how typically they carry out a particular motion or how efficient they’re at it — signifies the identical. Whereas Chiesa’s take-on success price of 37 per cent may enhance, his 2.4 carries into the penalty space per 90 was the best amongst forwards in Italy’s Serie A final season.

It’s value noting that Chiesa spent most of final season taking part in down the center for Juventus, alongside or as an alternative of Dusan Vlahovic. This helped him benefit from the second-best membership season of his profession when it comes to league targets, with 9, however he scored simply thrice within the Turin membership’s closing 16 league video games.

As The Athletic’s James Horncastle wrote in April, Chiesa leaned into his tendency of dribbling out extensive, which noticed him function additional away from purpose in an already tactically-ineffective Juventus assault. Even when working down the center, he was not an excellent shooter, with solely 34 per cent accuracy on 3.0 photographs per 90, and he additionally didn’t contribute a lot defensively.

Creatively, Chiesa nonetheless possesses a spark that makes him a risk. He managed simply two league assists all season however recorded an anticipated assisted targets (xAG) determine of 6.2, indicating he created respectable alternatives that have been simply not completed off. A serious characteristic of his creativity was his dribbling, with Chiesa’s 0.6 shot-creating actions (SCAs) from take-ons per 90 rating him within the high 4 per cent of attackers in Serie A.

At Liverpool, Chiesa would play in a distinct system and on the proper, the place Slot has a steep drop-off in high quality behind Salah. Gakpo and Jota are rather more snug coming in off the left, whereas 18-year-old Ben Doak is inexperienced, along with his speedy future on the membership doubtful as properly.

Chiesa confirmed glimpses of his pre-ACL harm explosiveness and off-the-ball pace whereas taking part in on the proper for Italy at Euro 2024, which will likely be encouraging for Liverpool.

One fear about Chiesa, other than his harm document, has been his occasional incapacity to comply with tactical directions. There may be additionally the unknown issue of how he would react to not being an everyday starter. He’s prone to be restricted to a task working at tiring defenders within the latter components of matches or taking part in in opposition to comparatively weaker opposition in cup soccer, at the least initially.

In that regard, he provides Slot an honest tactical various, in addition to reduction for Salah, who missed 10 matches final season by way of harm — yet one more than he was absent for within the earlier three campaigns mixed.

GO DEEPER

Is Gravenberch ending Liverpool’s No 6 debate?

(High photograph: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Photos)