Federico Chiesa could pull plug on Liverpool transfer after private dinner held

Liverpool’s hopes of landing Federico Chiesa before Friday’s transfer deadline may reportedly hinge on the financial situation at Barcelona. Chiesa, 26, has been told he has no future at Juventus by new manager Thiago Motta, a development that has seen him linked to a string of high profile clubs in Europe.

Arne Slot is yet to add his squad for the 2024/25 campaign, despite the signing of Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia.

The £29.6million man will immediately head back to Spain on a season long loan, before joining Liverpool next summer.

The Reds appear in pole position to sign Chiesa, with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that the player’s agent, Fali Ramadani, was in contact with the Merseyside club. Ramadani is also said to have dinner with Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.

However, according to Spanish media outlet Sport, Chiesa’s preference is a move to Barcelona. That notion reportedly hinges on whether the Catalan club can gain approval from La Liga to proceed with the transfer.

Juventus are said to be prepared to let the player go for as little as £12million, given he is in the final year of his contract and will be eligible to leave for free next summer. But Barca, whose transfer activity is currently plagued by financial constraints, will need to prove to league authorities they are able to fit Chiesa onto their wage bill without breaching any regulations.

Time is running out for all parties though. The summer transfer deadline expires at 11pm Friday, meaning Chiesa risks ending up in limbo in Italy if an imminent move to Spain does not materialise.

Motta left the player out of the squad for his first league game in charge against Como, and also declined to select him when the Old Lady played Hellas Verona on Monday. That’s despite having racked up 131 club appearances since joining from Fiorentina in 2020, initially on loan, and playing a prominent role in his country’s Euro 2024 campaign this summer.

Chiesa has helped the club to two Coppa Italia wins in the past four years, but is currently training away from the first team squad. And ahead of the 3-0 win at Hellas Verona, Motta was asked if his stance on the player had changed.

“No, it hasn’t, Motta replied. “I spoke with him internally. This proves my respect for all my players. I want to transmit transparency and clarity to my players. Nothing has changed.”

The Brazilian also insisted he was happy with his club’s summer business, but stopped short of confirming Chiesa was in talks with other clubs. The player himself has also declined to speak publicly on his future.