Over the course of the summer transfer window, we have taken a close look at some of the biggest and best business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. For the last edition, we will focus on Liverpool’s only arrival of the window, Federico Chiesa.
By Neel Shelat
Less has been more for the English Premier League’s top three in this transfer window. Defending champions Manchester City’s only new addition has been Savinho from sister club Troyes as Ilkay Gündogan has returned to the club, Arsenal’s only noteworthy arrivals are Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, and Liverpool have been even less active.
Of course, the Reds have undergone the biggest change over the summer as Jürgen Klopp left and was succeeded by Arne Slot, but their player transfer business has been next to non-existent. They have not sold a single noteworthy first-team player and only have one new face in their squad this season as their first signing Giorgi Mamardashvili was instantly loaned back to Valencia. So, Federico Chiesa will be the only new man on the pitch at Anfield in 2024.
This certainly is not a signing without surrounding question marks, but they are all overridden by the fee. Liverpool have paid just €13 million to sign the Italian international – about half of his estimated transfer value – making this a deal that simply cannot end very badly for them.
Low Risk, High Reward
The low fee as well as the fact that Chiesa will reportedly not earn a particularly astronomical wage naturally makes this a low-risk move for Liverpool. Given the fact that they have not made any other signings for the season, they comfortably have the means to take a gamble on a player like Chiesa.
The biggest risk with the Italian international is his injury record, which makes for very concerning reading. He has missed 72 games for Juventus since the start of 2022 due to a variety of problems, though over half can be chalked down to his anterior cruciate ligament tear that year. He has had recurring muscle issues since and never seemed to get back to his peak in terms of athleticism, so that is a big concern.
However, Chiesa’s struggles at Juventus can also be put down to tactical issues. He broke through at Fiorentina as a traditional winger who could play on either wing, but no such role existed in Massimiliano Allegri’s 5-3-2 system which prevailed for most of the Italian international’s time at the club. As a result, he was used as a second striker or even wing-back at times. Obviously, his lack of a consistent starting position did not help his cause.
Even amid all these issues, though, Chiesa remained a dangerous attacker when on the pitch. He has hovered around an average of 2 successful take-ons per 90 at a 50% average throughout his career. While that dropped to 1.43 at 36.8% in Serie A last season, he still managed to break into double digits in terms of goal involvements. His tally of nine goals was his best since his Fiorentina days as he proved that he retained the two-footed shooting threat that made him so dangerous.
While he may no longer have the burst of pace he once had, Chiesa’s two-footedness makes him dangerous in one-on-one situations on either wing. He can clearly cut inside and shoot with either foot, but equally can also go down the line and deliver crosses into the box to pose a creative threat.
A lot rests on whether or not he manages to stay consistently fit, but Chiesa undoubtedly still has the qualities to be a very dangerous attacker.
Addressing the Glaring Squad Gap
Besides the fee and Chiesa’s potential, this signing was an absolute no-brainer for Liverpool because of the fact that it perfectly addresses a glaring gap in their squad. The Reds have had some issues with depth in recent years, particularly in the right wing position where Mohamed Salah has lacked a clear backup.
Making a signing for this role proved difficult due to its contradictory demands. The Egyptian superstar still remains one of the best attackers in the Premier League, meaning he will continue to start most matches when fit. So, Liverpool needed an alternative who was willing to play second fiddle while also having the top-class quality to slot in seamlessly. Given Chiesa’s recent record, he should be happy enough with that, and he could also get some game time alongside Salah thanks to his ability to play on the left as well.
The absolute dream scenario for Liverpool would be Chiesa gaining enough confidence and game time in the next season or two to become Salah’s successor when he leaves. The 32-year-old forward has regularly been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in recent windows and some huge bids have been rejected, but his departure does seem like a matter of time now. If Chiesa can replace even half of his game time and output in the long run, Liverpool will be over the moon with this deal.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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