Why Liverpool Are Interested in Signing Federico Chiesa

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus on a cut-price deal. We analyse what he could add to Arne Slot’s team.

Arne Slot’s first transfer window as Liverpool boss has been quiet. Very quiet.

The Reds are yet to make their first signing under their new manager. The transfer of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is reportedly very close, but even then the Georgian will spend the rest of the season on loan at his current club.

There’s a chance then, that Federico Chiesa will become the first player to make his debut under Slot. That’s a sentence we didn’t think we’d be writing a few months ago.

Chiesa, whose contract at Juventus expires at the end of this season, has been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Thiago Motta. He did not feature in any of their pre-season squads, nor in Juventus’ opening game in Serie A.

The Italian was a crucial part of Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020-winning side and featured in the team of the tournament. But his ascent to the top of the game has since been curtailed by a series of injuries, most notably an ACL tear at the start of 2022.

Yet, whenever a player of Chiesa’s pedigree becomes available at a cut-price fee – and this would be really quite cheap (reportedly around £13 million) – smart clubs take notice. And Liverpool are one of those enquiring about the Juve man.

But why are they interested in bringing Chiesa to Anfield?

One of Chiesa’s standout qualities is his versatility. He is comfortable playing anywhere across the front three, and was used off the right wing to devastating effect for Italy at Euro 2020.

Chiesa’s positions map below tracks his time at Juventus and highlights how many positions he can cover. He spent the majority of his spell in Turin as a second striker but can play as a winger on either flank and was even used as a wing-back in certain setups.

This versatility makes him a very attractive squad option in that he could presumably cover for any of Liverpool’s front five of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz.

Key to Liverpool’s second-half performance against Ipswich on Matchday 1 was their ability to isolate their devastating wingers against Ipswich’s full-backs. Both of their goals came from Salah running in behind left-back Leif Davis, with the Egyptian assisting Jota’s opener before scoring himself.

That leans into one of the major parts of Chiesa’s game: his ability to beat defenders one-on-one. Across the last two seasons – i.e his subsequent two full seasons post ACL tear – the Italian has averaged 4.5 take-ons per 90 minutes, a total that only Díaz (5.3) compares to of Liverpool’s current crop of attackers.

There’s end product when Chiesa drives past opponents, too. In that same time frame, he’s created 11 chances following a take-on, a total higher than any other Juventus or Liverpool player. He also led all Juventus players for shooting opportunities created (either taking the shot himself or creating a chance) following a ball carry. And let’s not forget that some of that period has seen him play as a wing-back, which would reduce his opportunity to take on opponents.

As the map of his chance-creating carries below shows, his direct, dribbling threat can come from either flank.

As Liverpool depart slightly from Jürgen Klopp’s full-throttle style of play in favour of more control, having an option like Chiesa who is able to beat opponents to carve out opportunities against low blocks could be valuable. Plus, when Liverpool do get the opportunity to attack in transition, his ability to carry the ball at pace would be a welcome addition to the forward line.

Chiesa is not an out-and-out goal-scorer, though. He scored 10 goals in all competitions for Juventus last season, and his highest seasonal tally was 14 back in 2020-21.

Over the course of his Serie A career at Juventus, he’s averaged a goal every three games, a rate that doesn’t set the world on fire but is a respectable tally for a winger or supplementary forward. That’s in line with Díaz, who’s averaged 0.32 goals per 90 across his Liverpool league career, but lower than each of Salah (0.68), Jota (0.64), Núñez (0.48) and Gakpo (0.43).

But, with the exception of Salah, he’d bring more creativity than the rest of that group. In 2023-24, Chiesa created 2.2 chances per 90 in Serie A and averaged 0.23 expected assists per 90. Those figures were team-highs for Juventus and would see him rank second among Liverpool’s front five.

Chiesa’s work rate is another aspect of his game that aligns well with what Slot demands of his players. Out of possession, one area where Slot and Klopp align perfectly is their desire to press high and win the ball back as quickly as possible.

In Serie A last season – where Chiesa played 81% of his minutes as a second striker – he completed 36.7 high-intensity pressures per 90, a figure that saw him rank second among all of Juventus’ forwards and attacking midfielders. His high-intensity pressure map below shows he’s someone willing to work hard in all areas of the pitch.

Given his extensive injury history, it’s pretty safe to assume Chiesa’s role at Liverpool would be that of a squad player, rotating in to manage the minutes of Liverpool’s first-choice starting attackers.

But a 26-year-old European champion is a pretty good squad option to be able to call upon. His ability to beat his opponent in a one-on-one, vision to create chances for teammates, and aptitude when operating in tight spaces would add another dimension to Liverpool’s attack.

At the reported transfer fee, it’s a pretty low-risk gamble from Liverpool who could add an attacker of real pedigree to an already enviable forward line.

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