Liverpool take transfer gamble with Federico Chiesa signing – Dan Bardell
Dan Bardell thinks that Federico Chiesa is worth the gamble after the Italy forward completed a £10million switch from Juventus to Liverpool.
The Reds confirmed the signing of Chiesa from the Serie A side on 29 August in only their second new arrival of the transfer window, arriving for a cut-price fee with just one year left on his Juventus contract.
Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, Bardell said that despite Chiesa’s injury record in Italy, his move to Anfield is a bargain at just £10m and he could prove to be a superb signing for Arne Slot’s side.
“For £10m there’s very little risk, I think there is only upside in that move. When he played in the EUROs in 2021 I thought he was absolutely brilliant and then at Juventus in the Covid year he was a key player and scored some really important goals.
“I don’t think injuries have helped him and he’s probably lost a yard of pace, maybe he’s playing with a bit of fear which we didn’t see when he first came on to the scene.
“He just wasn’t favoured at Juventus and didn’t have long on his contract so Liverpool and Richard Hughes had an opportunity to sign a player that is worth a gamble.
“At that price I don’t think he is much of a gamble actually. Coming in to play under Arne Slot is a really intriguing move.”
Federico Chiesa transfer could be all Liverpool need this summer
While Chiesa is the second new signing made in the Slot era at Anfield, he is the one who’ll get on the pitch for the Dutchman’s Reds side – barring a season-ending injury in his first training sessions.
Giorgi Mamardashvili’s signing from Valencia will see the Georgian goalkeeper head straight back out on loan to the LaLiga club, before joining back up with the first-team squad at Anfield in 2025.
As a result, and with the Reds unlikely to make further additions on Deadline Day, Chiesa shapes up as the headline arrival at the club this summer – barring, of course, Slot himself in the dugout.
The Dutchman may still want a defensive midfielder after interest in Martin Zubimendi came to nothing, but if he’s happy with Chiesa as his only addition, the club’s fanbase will get behind that decision.
If the Italian can hit the ground running, and displace any member of Liverpool’s still-formidable frontline, he’ll be a hit at Anfield, and will give Slot yet another outlet of attacking flair and verve.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds have turned down a cash-plus-player offer for one of their longest-serving squad players.
For more Liverpool women news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.