View: 77% Federico Chiesa can be a Liverpool star after Juventus transfer
Federico Chiesa has all the tools to become a success at Liverpool following his transfer from Juventus this summer.
The Italian forward joined the Reds for an initial £10m with £2.5m in add-ons, which could prove to become the bargain of the transfer window [BBC Sport, 29 August].
Liverpool supporters will rightfully question the decision to sign a sixth forward with positions such as defensive midfield and defence needing strengthening.
However, Chiesa is the opportunistic signing that sporting director Richard Hughes had hoped for and could be the final piece of the puzzle for Arne Slot this season.
Federico Chiesa is the perfect winger for Arne Slot’s Liverpool
While Liverpool will not be getting the Chiesa that lit up the world stage for Italy at Euro 2020, the 26-year-old enjoyed a productive return to football last season with Juventus.
Chiesa suffered a long-term injury in the 2021/22 season and spent the 2022/23 season slowly working his way back to match fitness before his return to the side last term.
He ended his final season in Turin with nine goals and two assists in 33 Serie A appearances, creating 12 big chances for his teammates and averaging 2.3 shots per match [Sofascore].
It was a slow and steady journey to first-team football for the Italian. The goal output may not set the world alight but his underlying numbers suggest that he can return to his most prolific form for the Reds this season.
Arne Slot has a specific profile in mind for his wide forwards. The Dutchman wants a winger who can beat his defender in one-on-one situations, can cut inside to allow the full-backs the width of the pitch, an effective crosser of the ball, and is ever-present in the opposition’s penalty area – Chiesa ticks all the boxes.
Last season he was in the top 97.2 percentile in Serie A for expected assists with 5.58, 54 chances created, and 40 successful crosses and averaged a respectable 77 per cent pass accuracy [Fotmob].
In comparison with players across Europe’s best leagues, Chiesa was in the top 85 percentile for progressive passes, averaging three per match [FBref].
Federico Chiesa will challenge the pecking order at Liverpool
Given that Chiesa arrives at Anfield as the sixth-choice attacking option and the chosen Mohammed Salah deputy, his impact off the bench and in games when the Egyptian is rested is a frightening prospect.
Chiesa is reminiscent of a Salah of old, with his blistering pace and eagerness to beat his defender similar to the traits that adhered the 32-year-old to the Anfield faithful when he arrived on English shores in 2017.
With 4.96 shot-creating actions per 90 for the top 99 percentile, 4.57 progressive carries per match for the 97 percentile, nine progressive passes received for the 92 percentile [FBref], and the 90.3 percentile for successful dribbles, it will not be long before Chiesa is challenging for a starting berth under Slot [Fotmob].
While Liverpool missed out on improving in problem positions this summer, the opportunity to add Chiesa to the already brimming attacking ranks at Anfield was too good for the Reds to pass on.
It is an exciting and welcoming addition to the side and one that Liverpool fans may look back on at the end of the season as the signing that decided the success of the Reds this year.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds v Manchester City fixture date changed in exciting WSL development.
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