Latest news with #FedericoChiesa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool tipped to HIJACK move for €30m forward
Liverpool have still got plenty of transfer uncertainty around their wing options. Ben Doak and Federico Chiesa could make way in order to generate some transfer income - while Luis Diaz is now the subject of an official approach from Bayern Munich. Those departures could be used to fund a move for a new striker - with Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak now firmly in Richard Hughes' sights. But losing so many wingers would also leave the Reds a little light on numbers in wide areas. And that's why links with Malick Fofana make sense. The Lyon winger, 20, had a terrific season on a personal level and is widely seen as one of the crisis club's most bankable assets. €30m-rated Fofana wanted by Liverpool Lyon require urgent sales having just escaped relegation - on appeal - to Ligue 2 based on the state of their finances. Recent reports in France have suggested ambitious Ligue 1 runners-up Marseille would be interested in a deal for the €30m-rated Belgium international. But that view has now been challenged by a report in RMC Sport. Far more likely is that Fofana ends up at a European giant this summer - with Liverpool among the teams tipped to make a bid. Marseille not fancied in Fofana chase 'The young Belgian winger has a good chance of leaving the Groupama Stadium this summer,' the report reads. 'The Marseille club has even inquired about the Lyon player. But Marseille fans have little chance of seeing him step onto the Stade Vélodrome pitch in their team's jersey. The deal is unlikely to succeed. 'Powerful and prestigious clubs like Bayern, Liverpool, and another major European team are interested in the Lyonnais.' Liverpool's priorities are elsewhere right now - with deals live for Isak and Ekitike. But once the striker hunt has ended, it could well be time to bring one of the most promising young European attackers around to Anfield. Last season he scored five goals and added four assists in the French top flight from only 16 starts. He is under contract until 2028 but will be leaving before then as Lyon attempt to sort out their money trouble.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The UNEXPECTED impact of Luis Diaz's Liverpool exit
Will Liverpool cash in on Diaz? Sporting director Richard Hughes would probably accept €80m for the Colombia international. That would represent sensational value on the wide man - who joined in 2022 for £37.5m and whose contract expires in only two years. Advertisement Diaz had a wonderful 2024/25 season - scoring 13 goals and finishing a Premier League champion. But the Reds must ask themselves whether that kind of form is sustainable and if Diaz is worth a new, improved contract. It doesn't appear so right now and so a sale seems the most likely option. Liverpool could opt to fund a striker deal with the proceeds of any Diaz sale - with Darwin Nunez heavily linked with an exit of his own. Liverpool probably won't sign winger And if the former Porto winger departs, it's not certain that the Anfield club would go for a like-for-like replacement. Arne Slot has augmented his wide threats in the summer window thus far - with Milos Kerkez a marauding left-back and Jeremie Frimpong set to take over on the right flank. Advertisement Florian Wirtz, too, can be expected to move slightly wider in the line-up if Slot intends to keep Dominik Szoboszlai in the team. And with the club having spent around £200m so far this summer - with other priorities still needing to be addressed - a winger chase might well be put on hold. © IMAGO Could Chiesa stay? The unexpected upshot of all of that is that Federico Chiesa could end up staying at Liverpool for another season at least. The 27-year-old totalled barely 400 Premier League minutes last season and was linked with the exit as early as January. He's got a contract until 2028 having sealed a transfer from Juventus last September and cost the club only £12.5m in a bargain deal. Advertisement Liverpool fans have taken the Italy winger to their hearts but it's only fair to say that they are still waiting to see the best of him. Ordinary displays - such as in February's FA Cup fourth round defeat to Plymouth - damaged his reputation and it looked certain the club would seek to offload him this summer. But no such move has come to materialise. © IMAGO - Federico Chiesa Liverpool Napoli chance disappearing Serie A sides are either reluctant or unable to pay his £120k per week salary and No1 suitors Napoli are moving elsewhere for wing targets. PSV playmaker Noa Lang is imminent while a move for Dan Ndoye of Bologna is still live for the Italian champions. Advertisement That means Chiesa is running out of destinations and therefore Hughes and Slot may opt to keep him around. He is not going to be expected to start with Mo Salah and Frimpong ahead of him on the right. But he could be a useful element in bulking out the squad for the campaign ahead - capable of filling in on either wing as well as a No10. © IMAGO - Arne Slot Federico Chiesa Liverpool 2024-25 A second chance for Chiesa Furthermore, the reported €15m or so that Liverpool would seek in a transfer fee is not going to have a seismic impact in funding new players. And the former Fiorentina man may well be worthy of a second chance. Chiesa was unable to join the squad straight away after joining, effectively undergoing a mini-preseason of his own. Advertisement Then he struggled with various knocks and niggles, failing to make an impact in his rare outings. But with the club back to work as of this week, Chiesa will have the chance to hit the ground running for the first time. The Premier League's history is littered with players who did not shine in their first seasons but ended up making good careers for themselves. Who knows, given Diaz's imminent exit and Liverpool's transfer priorities lying elsewhere, Chiesa could be next.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool make contact to sign €60m winger
Liverpool have made contact to sign €60m winger according to the latest reports. Richard Hughes' current priority is player sales. The club's sporting director has done a good job so far this summer including securing the services of Florian Wirtz. Advertisement But now Hughes must focus on generating more cash so Liverpool continue to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) before launching himself into the market again. Among the club's priorities when it comes to bringing in new players are bolstering the centre-back and no.9 roles as well as adding further depth on the wings. This is of course all dependent on who leaves the club. For Liverpool to be able to invest in new attackers, they must first sell Federico Chiesa and Darwin Nunez. When those deals get over the line, there will be a clear opportunity for further investment. Advertisement But it looks like Liverpool are already working on potential players to bring in. When it comes to a new winger, the Reds have seemingly identified Malick Fofana of Lyon. According to The Independent, Liverpool are among a number of clubs who are in contact to sign the Belgian international with Lyon asking for €60m for his services at the moment. Fofana would be a solid addition to replace Chiesa. He's very quick, and direct. He can use both of his feet comfortably, which means he would be capable of playing on either flank. And he's not a stranger to playing in other roles as well. For example at youth level for Belgium he played as a forward. Meanwhile, at Gent, he was often used as a wing-back. Advertisement The speed and one vs one ability that stands-out about him is exactly how Slot wants his wingers to play. This is why going for Fofana makes a lot of sense. He's also still only just 20-years-old. The world is at his feet, and the only obstacle really in Liverpool's way is the fact that Lyon's valuation is probably a bit too high right now. €60m is just over £50m. At this moment in time, Fofana is not worth that. He may be worth even more than that in the future but right now he's now shown enough to warrant such a high fee. Which is even more high than expected considering Lyon's financial troubles. The French side are in mass debt which has meant they have been relegated to Ligue 2. Now they are appealing that decision. However, with such debts and in such a dire situation, there is no way Liverpool would pay as much money for Fofana as Lyon are demanding. The window is long, and the chances are Liverpool are in the waiting game right now. A lot will hinge on the fate of Lyon and what the outcome of their appeal will be.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Should Luis Diaz be sold? Our Liverpool writer argues with himself
The noise surrounding Luis Diaz and a potential move away from Liverpool will not go away. German champions Bayern Munich are the latest to test the club's stance that they are not interested in selling the 28-year-old this summer. The response was the same one Barcelona got when they enquired last month. Advertisement So what should Liverpool do with Diaz? It's a topic that is ideal for a (sensible) Friday evening chat at the pub with a pint. There are multiple opinions, options and avenues available — but what makes the most sense? Given it's Thursday morning and I'm on the clock, the pub is my work desk, the pint is a glass of water and I'm splitting my brain into two — Andy and Andrew — to discuss Diaz. Andy: There's no debate. Diaz has to stay. He is coming off his most productive season at Liverpool — 17 goals and eight assists in 50 appearances. He played a key role in the forward line that fired them to a Premier League title playing as a left winger before transitioning into the No 9 role where he became the preferred option. He is a player that Slot trusts and his adaptation to the striker role increased his versatility and value to the head coach because he can choose between different tactical set-ups depending on opponents. With all that in mind, Liverpool are right not to be entertaining his sale. Given fellow attackers Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa are set to depart, and the significant changes made in other areas of the squad, you're beginning to move into the dangerous area of trying to change too much too quickly. Andrew: Sorry, Andy, but it's not that clear-cut. Surely Liverpool should be looking to cash in on a player entering the final two years of his contract and arguably at peak value. Diaz is 28, turning 29 in January, and has two years remaining on his contract. Any transfer fee Liverpool could get will begin to decrease after this summer. Diaz had a very good campaign last season and answered some of the questions about his end product – but he did go through a 19-game spell where he scored only once despite playing the central role. While the send-offs for players at the end of their contracts in recent years have been a nice gesture, money needs to be made to fund incomings. Are we really deciding to keep him with the possibility of him leaving for free? The club has already foregone one potentially massive transfer fee with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid, and are in danger of that scenario repeating itself with Ibrahima Konate, who is now in the last year of his deal with no sign of an extension being signed. It's just bad business to keep allowing this to happen. Advertisement Andy: Well, that's not how Liverpool seem to see it. It feels like allowing contracts to run down and players to leave for nothing has almost become part of their business model. That may make the accountants twitchy, but it's all about weighing up the sporting benefits of keeping the player against the financials. The No 9 position was central to many discussions last season. The two natural strikers Slot had to choose from – Nunez and Diogo Jota – also struggled to produce in an attack that was built around Mohamed Salah and designed to primarily create chances for the wide players. If Liverpool feel Diaz will contribute to trophy success in the next two seasons, then they will value that higher than a transfer fee they get this summer. Andrew: But is there not some logic in giving him a new contract, retaining his value and then selling him in two years for a fee? Is that not better than getting nothing back for him in 2027? Andy: The contract situation is interesting because Liverpool have been able to benefit from an agreement where Diaz seems to be contributing significantly more than he is being paid. From on-pitch and business standpoints, that is a positive for the club. He arguably does deserve a new deal if he is to remain a key part of Liverpool's plans but say he wants four more years, which is probably what a 28-year-old would be searching for. That would take him up until the age of 32, while also doubling his wages. As we know, Liverpool only want players entering their thirties with multiple years remaining on their contract in exceptional circumstances — essentially if your name is Virgil van Dijk or Salah. Hopefully this is never the case, but say Diaz suffered a significant injury – that reduces the number of clubs who would be in for him, his value and leaves Liverpool in a situation where they may be unable to move him on. Advertisement It's a risk they don't need to take and, ultimately, Diaz made it clear in an interview a few months ago that he is happy at Liverpool and will play out the remainder of his current contract if no offers are forthcoming. Andrew: That may be true, but are we sure that there is no chance Liverpool will sell this summer? That may be the club's stance right now but do you believe that if, say, a £70m-80m offer was tabled by Barcelona, Bayern Munich or a Saudi club, that position would hold? I struggle to see how Liverpool could turn down an offer of that size. If we are talking about 'market opportunities' — the buzzword of the moment — then that has to be one. It would allow them to reinvest in somebody like Anthony Gordon, who we know is well liked and offers a similar skill set – albeit he is more pacy and less skilful – and positional flexibility to Diaz. Instantly, Liverpool would add a younger, homegrown player to the squad and probably get the same amount of production from Gordon next season. There are other options out there, too, who would fit the age profile, tactical flexibility and attributes required. Andy: There are only a small number of players who are genuinely not for sale at any price. Arguably, Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are two of them. So, yes, if Liverpool received an offer that blew them away then they would be sure to consider it. But they have already changed plenty this summer. Two new full-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez and a new creative in Florian Wirtz will mean tactical tweaks next season. Add in a potential new centre-back and No 9 and there's even more integrating to do. Cohesion is something Slot spoke about last season and while he has experience of squad overhauls at Feyenoord and a free summer without international competitions to disrupt pre-season, continuity is still important. Forcing change when it's not a necessity can be detrimental, especially ahead of defending a league title. Andrew: I'm all about retaining the Premier League title, and maybe seeing the club lift more silverware next season. And I suppose you could look to move Diaz on next summer, too. This does all come back to whether Liverpool are going to sign a No 9 this summer, given Nunez seems to be on his way. If they choose not to spend big in an inflated market, then Diaz will probably continue to fill in that role next season — but if that's the case, you worry that the lack of a natural centre-forward may come back to haunt them. Advertisement Andy: It's a risk, for sure, but Liverpool won plenty of games last season with Diaz through the middle. Ultimately, when he's in form, he's a brilliant player to watch, full of fun and dynamism. Let's enjoy that while he's here and if he produces another season like his most recent, with Wirtz pulling the strings, Liverpool's stance will be the right one. (Top photos: Getty Images)
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool eyeing up deal for €60m Serie A forward
Liverpool could LOSE several wingers in this summer's transfer window. Federico Chiesa is widely expected to depart - with plenty of interest being shown in the Italian from Serie A. And Luis Diaz could be on his way to Saudi Arabia as Al-Nassr prepare an attractive package for the Reds. Add in the uncertainty around Ben Doak and all of a sudden it could look like Arne Slot requires another wide man or two. Advertisement Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong can play on the wings but the ex-Bayer Leverkusen duo will probably be deployed elsewhere in the lineup. Links to No9s and to centre-backs have been prominent in recent weeks but don't rule out the club doing business for a wide attacker. Liverpool like Ademola Lookman One name back in the frame is Ademola Lookman. The 27-year-old Atalanta star will leave his current club this summer should his asking price be met. That fee has been reported at €50m to €60m by Tuttomercato. Arsenal are the team most closely associated with a potential bid for the African Footballer of the Year with Caught Offside reporting that the Gunners are talking to Atalanta over a deal. Advertisement But the same report mentions that Liverpool are certainly keeping their eye on a potential move. Arsenal in driving seat for Lookman Lookman has been sensational for La Dea since moving from RB Leipzig in 2022. Last season he scored 15 Serie A goals and added five assists. The club would therefore be reluctant to lose the Nigeria international but with his contract expiring in 2027 they may have little choice but to listen to bids. Let's see what happens with Arsenal. © IMAGO Will space open up for Lookman If no deal can be reached with the Gunners, Liverpool could do a lot worse than opening talks with Atalanta over Lookman. First of course departures will be required. Liverpool have already spent close to £200m in the summer market and will need to claw back some money in sales. We expect Jarell Quansah to leave for Bayer Leverkusen any time soon. That will bring in £30m or so.
