Federico Chiesa EXIT opens door for Liverpool academy sensation | OneFootball

It’s been a frustrating season for Federico Chiesa - the only permanent signing Liverpool made last summer for the 2024/25 season.

He was acquired from Juventus in an opportunistic deal by sporting director Richard Hughes - who was happy to take advantage of a diminishing contract duration to strike a bargain deal.

Chiesa, 27, is not short of quality, as proven by his success at Juve and with the Italian national team, but it’s simply not happened for him at Anfield.

Signed while unfit, it took Chiesa several weeks before he was considered for first-team duties by Arne Slot. But even so, he has been in and out of the matchday squads - making no great impact for the Reds other than a consolation goal in the EFL Cup final.

Indeed his fate may well have been sealed by a poor performance in another cup competition - a drab FA Cup defeat to Plymouth in February.

Since then it’s appeared the writing is on the wall for the winger - who was supposed to provide back-up and cover for Mohamed Salah this season.

It's not worked out for Chiesa

Italian teams were rumoured to be interested back in January - with AC Milan, Inter, Roma, Napoli and Atalanta all listed as suitors.

But Chiesa’s high wage - £120k per week by some estimates - has put Serie A sides off thus far but Tottenham have now come forward with their intentions to sign him.

Liverpool will seek to earn back the £12.5m they paid to Juve for his services - not a high fee for a player with Chiesa’s CV but perhaps indicative of his current standing.

But his exit will almost certainly open a door for another Liverpool talent.

Salah has been forced to carry the burden on the right wing all season long with a lack of options in his position.

That’s due to Chiesa’s unavailability in the main as well as Arne Slot’s reluctance to use him. With the Egyptian King signed up until 2027 - cover will again be required for next season rather than an outright replacement.

If Salah had left at the end of his previous contract this summer then Hughes and Slot would have had to sign a legitimate first-team option - like Mohammed Kudus or Bryan Mbeumo.

As it stands, Liverpool can get by with an understudy.

© IMAGO

Ben Doak can be Salah's back-up

Salah is showing no signs of slowing down, contributing over 50 goals and assists this season. His contract is expensive at £400k per week and Hughes won’t be offering a high wage to a deputy in the event that Chiesa is sold.

That’s why Ben Doak could come into the reckoning.

The 19-year-old Scot has enjoyed a very productive season on loan at Middlesbrough - although his loan spell was curtailed due to injury. He is due back with the Liverpool squad for pre-season and he may well have the chance to show what he can do.

The club were reported to be willing to part ways with Doak back in January with a valuation of £30m placed on him. Bournemouth, Everton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich have been listed as interested and there is no doubt that Doak could have an impact at Premier League level.

© IMAGO - Ben Doak Liverpool 2024-25

Does Arne Slot trust academy talents?

He rinsed Josko Gvardiol in a recent international for Scotland versus Croatia and looks at home among that kind of company.

A season learning from Salah might serve the wide man well, with a view to gaining first-team minutes in the cup competitions and in the closing stages of league and Champions League games.

Slot hasn’t been particularly generous with first-team minutes for youth and academy players this season - with Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Rio Ngumoha featuring minimally.

But given the scale of sales being planned by the Reds this summer there could be an opportunity to give them more responsibility. And once he recovers from his injury, Doak might well be given the chance to step up.