Federico Chiesa could be heading back to Italy on loan in January, with Inter Milan reportedly keen on securing the winger’s services.
The 27-year-old Italy international was Arne Slot’s first signing in the summer after joining Liverpool in a cut-price deal from Juventus.
The Serie A giants were eager to offload Chiesa as he entered the final year of his contract.
However, Chiesa has faced a challenging start to his career at Anfield, having been eased into the squad by Slot.
To date, he has made just one Premier League appearance and has missed the last five matchday squads as he works to regain full fitness.
Despite these struggles, Federico Chiesa could be offered a chance to rediscover his best form in familiar surroundings with Inter Milan, who are reportedly open to signing him on a six-month loan.
According to a new report from Tuttosport, the reigning Serie A champions would be willing to bolster their squad with Chiesa’s signature.
The Euro 2020 winner has also attracted interest from AC Milan and AS Roma, despite his limited game time at Liverpool.
While it remains unclear whether either of these clubs is as viable an option as Inter, sources suggest that Liverpool would be willing to cover part of Chiesa’s wages if he opts for a return to Serie A.
This isn’t the first time Chiesa has been linked with a move back to Italy in recent weeks.
However, comments from Slot earlier this season suggest that the winger still has a long-term future at Anfield.
The Dutch manager expressed sympathy for Chiesa, acknowledging the lack of opportunities and indicating that his absence from the starting lineup was due to fitness concerns rather than a lack of faith in his abilities.
“With Federico it’s a bit more simple; although it’s more difficult, but it’s a bit more simple to explain,” Slot explained last month.
“He missed a complete pre-season, I said this many times, and going to a league where the intensity might even be higher than the Italian league. We just faced the two Italian teams so I can say this now.
“So that makes it difficult for him to make the step towards the intensity levels the rest of the team is at at the moment.
“That has not so much to do with the Italian league or the Premier League, that has more to do with him missing a complete pre-season and that is so difficult for every player – when the games are constantly there – to build them up towards the levels we are at.
“So, difficult to say, but it’s a big disappointment for him that he is going in and out of the training sessions all the time. I feel sorry for him.”
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