Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa on the Brink: Premier League Rivals and AC Milan Set for £21.7m Transfer Scramble
Federico Chiesa’s tenure at Liverpool looks poised for a dramatic twist, as the £21.7 million-rated winger finds himself at the centre of intense transfer speculation. The Italian international’s challenging debut season under Arne Slot has opened the door to a high-profile exit, with AC Milan and three unnamed Premier League clubs all plotting summer swoops. For a club and player that began their partnership with such promise, the prospect of an early parting reveals the ruthlessness of top-flight football.
Chiesa arrived at Anfield amid great fanfare. Fresh from electrifying spells at Fiorentina and Juventus—where his directness and Champions League pedigree became well-known—the 27-year-old was anticipated to add fresh dynamism to Liverpool’s fabled attack. Yet adaptation has proved elusive. Despite flashes of quality, including a goal against Newcastle that briefly reignited optimism, Chiesa has logged just 395 minutes and four goal contributions over 12 appearances. An untimely combination of injuries, Mo Salah’s undimmed brilliance, and the team’s wealth of attacking options have sharply restricted his impact.
CaughtOffside reports that Chiesa has emerged as a key summer target for AC Milan, whose admiration is rooted in the winger’s proven Serie A track record. “Chiesa previously shone at Juventus, even if he had some injury issues during his time there, so it’s easy to see why a big name like Milan might be willing to gamble on him,” the outlet notes. Milan’s need for renewed attacking impetus could make a return to Italy a mutually beneficial scenario—especially as Chiesa’s familiarity with the league would speed his integration and the Rossoneri are ready to pay between €25 and €30 million for his signature.
The story is complicated by interest from within England. While the clubs remain unnamed, their pursuit highlights that Chiesa’s continental reputation has not been diminished by a tough Liverpool initiation. The question is whether these clubs will meet Liverpool’s asking price—a figure that reflects Chiesa’s pedigree but also the sense of an ill-fated Anfield chapter. As CaughtOffside speculates, “it perhaps seems hard to imagine there’ll be too many clubs willing to pay that, so it will be interesting to see if LFC end up backing down a bit after negotiations.”
Despite speculation and open doors, the player’s own stance adds another layer of intrigue. Christian Falk, reporting via The Daily Briefing, asserts that Chiesa has “absolutely no intention of leaving Liverpool this summer.” Yet, with tangible club interest and Liverpool’s apparent willingness to listen to offers, the decision may soon be taken out of his hands. Even supporters sympathetic to his injury struggles must admit: patience is a commodity in short supply at elite clubs competing on multiple fronts.
This transfer saga carries echoes of near-misses and what-could-have-beens. Chiesa ticked many boxes: pace, intelligence, European experience. But circumstances—both tactical and physical—have conspired against him. Should Milan or a Premier League rival offer Liverpool an appealing deal, the Chiesa experiment is likely to end as swiftly as it began.
For Liverpool fans, selling Chiesa may be less a wrench than a pragmatic reset; the recruitment team could reinvest the fee in strengthening elsewhere. Still, there’s no ignoring the twinge of regret—a sense that another player may rediscover his best only after walking away from Anfield’s bright lights.
What do you think: Should Liverpool cash in and move on, or would a second season and full pre-season see Chiesa finally deliver? Leave your opinions below and join the debate on one of this summer’s most intriguing transfer sagas.
