Liverpool are reportedly thinking about signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus on a cut-price deal. We analyse what he might add to Arne Slot’s workforce.
Arne Slot’s first switch window as Liverpool boss has been quiet. Very quiet.
The Reds are but to make their first signing below their new supervisor. The switch of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is reportedly very shut, however even then the Georgian will spend the remainder of the season on mortgage at his present membership.
There’s an opportunity then, that Federico Chiesa will turn into the primary participant to make his debut below Slot. That’s a sentence we didn’t suppose we’d be writing just a few months in the past.
Chiesa, whose contract at Juventus expires on the finish of this season, has been deemed surplus to necessities by new supervisor Thiago Motta. He didn’t characteristic in any of their pre-season squads, nor in Juventus’ opening sport in Serie A.
The Italian was a vital a part of Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020-winning facet and featured within the workforce of the match. However his ascent to the highest of the sport has since been curtailed by a collection of accidents, most notably an ACL tear at first of 2022.
But, at any time when a participant of Chiesa’s pedigree turns into out there at a cut-price payment – and this is able to be actually fairly low cost (reportedly round £13 million) – sensible golf equipment take discover. And Liverpool are a kind of enquiring concerning the Juve man.
However why are they thinking about bringing Chiesa to Anfield?
Certainly one of Chiesa’s standout qualities is his versatility. He’s comfy taking part in anyplace throughout the entrance three, and was used off the correct wing to devastating impact for Italy at Euro 2020.
Chiesa’s positions map beneath tracks his time at Juventus and highlights what number of positions he can cowl. He spent the vast majority of his spell in Turin as a second striker however can play as a winger on both flank and was even used as a wing-back in sure setups.
This versatility makes him a really engaging squad possibility in that he might presumably cowl for any of Liverpool’s entrance 5 of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz.
Key to Liverpool’s second-half efficiency in opposition to Ipswich on Matchday 1 was their capability to isolate their devastating wingers in opposition to Ipswich’s full-backs. Each of their objectives got here from Salah working in behind left-back Leif Davis, with the Egyptian aiding Jota’s opener earlier than scoring himself.
That leans into one of many main components of Chiesa’s sport: his capability to beat defenders one-on-one. Throughout the final two seasons – i.e his subsequent two full seasons submit ACL tear – the Italian has averaged 4.5 take-ons per 90 minutes, a complete that solely Díaz (5.3) compares to of Liverpool’s present crop of attackers.
There’s finish product when Chiesa drives previous opponents, too. In that very same timeframe, he’s created 11 probabilities following a take-on, a complete increased than every other Juventus or Liverpool participant. He additionally led all Juventus gamers for capturing alternatives created (both taking the shot himself or creating an opportunity) following a ball carry. And let’s not overlook that a few of that interval has seen him play as a wing-back, which would scale back his alternative to tackle opponents.
Because the map of his chance-creating carries beneath reveals, his direct, dribbling menace can come from both flank.
As Liverpool depart barely from Jürgen Klopp’s full-throttle fashion of play in favour of extra management, having an possibility like Chiesa who is ready to beat opponents to carve out alternatives in opposition to low blocks may very well be invaluable. Plus, when Liverpool do get the chance to assault in transition, his capability to hold the ball at tempo could be a welcome addition to the ahead line.
Chiesa isn’t an out-and-out goal-scorer, although. He scored 10 objectives in all competitions for Juventus final season, and his highest seasonal tally was 14 again in 2020-21.
Over the course of his Serie A profession at Juventus, he’s averaged a aim each three video games, a price that doesn’t set the world on fireplace however is a good tally for a winger or supplementary ahead. That’s in step with Díaz, who’s averaged 0.32 objectives per 90 throughout his Liverpool league profession, however decrease than every of Salah (0.68), Jota (0.64), Núñez (0.48) and Gakpo (0.43).
However, except Salah, he’d carry extra creativity than the remainder of that group. In 2023-24, Chiesa created 2.2 probabilities per 90 in Serie A and averaged 0.23 anticipated assists per 90. These figures have been team-highs for Juventus and would see him rank second amongst Liverpool’s entrance 5.
Chiesa’s work price is one other side of his sport that aligns nicely with what Slot calls for of his gamers. Out of possession, one space the place Slot and Klopp align completely is their need to press excessive and win the ball again as shortly as attainable.
In Serie A final season – the place Chiesa performed 81% of his minutes as a second striker – he accomplished 36.7 high-intensity pressures per 90, a determine that noticed him rank second amongst all of Juventus’ forwards and attacking midfielders. His high-intensity strain map beneath reveals he’s somebody keen to work arduous in all areas of the pitch.
Given his intensive harm historical past, it’s fairly secure to imagine Chiesa’s position at Liverpool could be that of a squad participant, rotating in to handle the minutes of Liverpool’s first-choice beginning attackers.
However a 26-year-old European champion is a reasonably good squad possibility to have the ability to name upon. His capability to beat his opponent in a one-on-one, imaginative and prescient to create probabilities for teammates, and aptitude when working in tight areas would add one other dimension to Liverpool’s assault.
On the reported switch payment, it’s a reasonably low-risk gamble from Liverpool who might add an attacker of actual pedigree to an already enviable ahead line.
Take pleasure in this? Subscribe to our soccer e-newsletter to obtain unique weekly content material. You may also comply with our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Fb.
