Federico Chiesa named on three-man transfer wishlist with ex-Arsenal kid and Premier League star

Federico Chiesa has started just twice in the Premier League for Liverpool, with manager Arne Slot preferring to select the likes of Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai

Federico Chiesa is being linked with a return to Italy(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Federico Chiesa is being linked with a sensational return to Juventus.

Chiesa, 28, has failed to secure a starting role in Arne Slot's team since joining Liverpool from Juventus during the summer of 2024. He's played just 316 minutes of Premier League soccer, starting only twice in England's top-flight. The second of those starts was against Wolves on Saturday, when he was hooked just after the hour mark.

It's likely Chiesa wouldn't have started against Wolves had Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai been available. Salah is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Szoboszlai was suspended for the 2-1 victory against Wolves at Anfield.

Chiesa has done well when called upon by Slot. The Euro 2020 winner was given just 466 minutes of first-team soccer last season, but he still managed to score twice and provide two assists.

It's a similar story this season; Chiesa has chalked up two goals and three assists from 453 minutes of first-team soccer. Yet Slot continues to select the likes of Salah and Szoboszlai ahead of Chiesa.

The Italian's lack of minutes at Anfield is fueling transfer speculation. According to La Gazetta dello Sport, Juventus is interested in signing three players in January. That includes Chiesa, who is being tipped to join Juventus on loan for the rest of the season.

Chiesa has struggled for minutes at Liverpool(Image: 2025 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)

The other two players are Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Guido Rodriguez.

Norton-Cuffy, a 21-year-old right-back, is currently impressing for Genoa in Serie A, having joined the Italian team in August 2024. He started his career at Arsenal and spent time on loan at English teams Lincoln, Rotherham, Coventry, and Millwall before moving to Italy.

Rodriguez, a 31-year-old defensive midfielder, is on the books at West Ham. Like Chiesa, he is also struggling to get minutes in the Premier League. World Cup winner Rodriguez has just 252 minutes of first-team soccer under his belt this season, despite previously winning major trophies with Argentinian outfit River Plate, Mexican team America, and Spanish club Real Betis.

Despite struggling for minutes at Liverpool, Chiesa is still regarded as a talented and exciting winger. He became one of the most wanted players in Europe after breaking into Fiorentina's first team, scoring 34 goals in 153 games for the Italian club.

Chiesa spent four seasons at Juventus, where he won the Italian Cup twice and the 2020 Italian Super Cup. He scored 32 goals in 131 games for Juventus.

Yet Chiesa is best known for his exploits for Italy, having featured 51 times for his country. He was a key part of the team that won Euro 2020 during the summer of 2021, scoring the winners against Austria and Spain on route to the final.

Chiesa was named in Euro 2020's Team of the Tournament for his efforts. Yet the Italian hasn't played for his country since joining Liverpool and may decide to quit the Reds in January to reignite his international career, with next year's World Cup looming.

Italy is yet to qualify for next year's tournament, having missed out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. To qualify for the World Cup, Italy will need to beat Northern Ireland at home before winning away in either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.