Federico Chiesa’s next move: Three clubs that could pounce after Liverpool snub | OneFootball

Federico Chiesa’s short stint at Liverpool looks set to end as quickly as it began.

Just a year after arriving from Juventus in a €12 million (£10.4m) deal plus €3m (£2.6m) in bonuses, the Italian forward has struggled to make an impact in England.

With only 14 appearances and four goal contributions across all competitions, Chiesa has found himself far from Arne Slot’s long-term project at Liverpool.

He was also left out of the squad that travelled to Asia for pre-season, which sends a clear message about the club’s position on his future.

The 27-year-old is weighing his options, but a return to Italy seems the most likely. Most of the top clubs in Serie A have been keeping close tabs on his situation.

Napoli are among clubs to have sounded out an interest, but they’re yet to send in a formal bid.

There are a couple of other options Chiesa could explore, and we’ve narrowed it down to three realistic destinations for the former Juventus star.

Joining the champions Napoli

Liverpool have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window with players moving both in and out of the club.

Darwin Nunez is one who was strongly linked with an exit, and there were talks about a potential move to Napoli. However, it could be Chiesa moving in that direction after talks to sign Nunez broke down.

The Partenopei are on the market for reinforcements after winning the Scudetto, with Antonio Conte’s side determined not to rest on their laurels.

Napoli have already bolstered their squad with Lorenzo Lucca and Noa Lang in attack, and Kevin De Bruyne is set to orchestrate things from midfield.

But Conte wants one more winger to add depth and quality to his attacking ranks, and Chiesa could be the answer. The Italian can play on both flanks, so he’s an ideal fit for Conte’s system.

If Liverpool are willing to negotiate a fair deal, Napoli could give Chiesa the ideal platform to relaunch his career.

Reuniting with Allegri at AC Milan

AC Milan could also offer Chiesa a route back to Serie A. While their primary target is a centre-forward to complement Santiago Gimenez, Noah Okafor’s potential exit could open a spot for a winger.

Chiesa will bring a different profile to the Rossoneri frontline, and one person who knows his strengths well is Massimiliano Allegri. They worked together at Juventus.

The ex-Juventus star could freshen up Milan’s attacking options. Nailing down a regular starting berth could be tricky, but he will provide competition for Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, and Samuel Chukwueze.

A fresh start at San Siro might be just what Chiesa needs to rediscover his best form, especially with a familiar face at the helm.

A fresh start at Inter Milan

Inter Milan have been linked with a move for Chiesa in the past, but they never acted on their interest.

He was a tactical mismatch for former head coach Simone Inzaghi, whose 3-5-2 system didn’t favour wingers, although the club’s financial situation also blocked any real progress in signing Chiesa.

However, with Cristian Chivu replacing Inzaghi in the dugout, Inter could reignite their interest in Chiesa.

Chivu prefers a 3-4-2-1 set-up, and his system could allow Chiesa to thrive in a free-attacking role behind the striker.

That said, Inter have their hands full trying to agree a deal to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, which leaves the option to sign Chiesa on the back burner.

However, if negotiations with Atalanta stall or the price becomes too high, Inter could revisit the possibility of bringing in Chiesa, especially if Liverpool lower their asking price.