Liverpool are currently leading both the Premier League and Champions League, but head coach Arne Slot could face an issue early in the January transfer window.
The Dutchman has made a strong start at Anfield, with Liverpool six points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League and a game in hand.
Liverpool’s next match is against fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday, and their lead could be reduced to three points before the game if Arsenal beats Brighton on Saturday.
Although Slot may be pleasantly surprised by his team’s success in his first season in English football, he does face some challenges.
Uncertainty remains over the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, all of whom are out of contract at the end of the season and still in talks with the club about new deals.
Additionally, there are concerns over summer signing Federico Chiesa, who has played only 123 minutes for Liverpool’s senior team this season.
Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus for about £10m in August, was the club’s sole senior signing in the summer transfer window. However, the 27-year-old Italy international has struggled with fitness issues and has not made an impact in the first half of the campaign.
According to Foot Mercato, Chiesa is now seeking a move in January, aiming to return to Italy immediately.
Anfield Watch reports that Chiesa feels homesick, dislikes the English weather, and is struggling with the Premier League’s physical demands.
TBR Football adds that Chiesa’s representatives have made it clear to Liverpool that he is frustrated and wants to leave. Interestingly, Liverpool is reportedly open to letting him go.
Possible destinations for Chiesa include Atalanta, Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma, and Fiorentina, as well as a potential return to Juventus. However, any move is likely to be a short-term loan, as Italian teams are unwilling to pay his reported €7.5m (£6m) annual salary.
Slot has urged Liverpool fans to be patient with Chiesa, explaining that the adjustment from Italian football to the Premier League has been challenging for him.
“If a player is out for five or six months, you cannot expect him to be at his best straight away,” Slot said. “Normally, during pre-season, a player would play three, four, or five games. He’s had only four or five weeks now and has been out for so long, so getting him back to his best level is not easy.”
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