Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus for £10 million plus £2.5 million in add-ons, with the forward travelling to Merseyside for a medical.
The 26-year-old Italy international operates mainly as a winger or a second striker and if the deal is completed as expected he will be Arne Slot’s second signing as Liverpool manager, following Tuesday’s €30 million capture of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, subject to a work permit and international clearance being granted. The Georgia goalkeeper will formally move to Anfield from the Spanish club before the 2025-26 season.
“I’m ready to start this new adventure, I wanted to say goodbye to the Juventus fans,” Chiesa told waiting journalists as he prepared to board a flight from Turin to Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon. “Thank you for your affection and for these years, I will carry you in my heart and thanks to Juventus.
“Is it sad to leave Juve like this? It’s sad but I’m really happy for this new adventure. I’m really happy and my family and I can’t wait.”
Chiesa’s impending arrival at Liverpool is something of a surprise given the impressive attacking options already at Slot’s disposal, namely Mohammed Salah, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo. Also because Liverpool’s priority this window appeared to be signing a defensive midfielder, with a move for Spain Euro 2024 winner Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad falling through earlier this month.
In targeting Chiesa, who was a star of Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign and has scored 32 goals in 131 appearances for Juventus, including 10 in 37 appearances last season, it appears Liverpool are seeking to make the type of “opportunistic” signing their new sporting director, Richard Hughes, claimed was a possibility when speaking to journalists at Slot’s unveiling as the club’s new head coach in early July. “We need to improve on the training pitch first and foremost, as Arne said. With the window open, we’ll always be opportunistic if we can,” said Hughes.
Chiesa’s father, Enrico, was a striker who also played for Italy in the mid-to-late 1990s, scoring seven goals in 17 international appearances.
Elsewhere, Southampton are again exploring the possibility of signing Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale on loan until the end of the season having revived their interest in the England goalkeeper.
The newly-promoted side are understood to have reopened talks with Arsenal over the 26-year-old after they pulled out of a move for Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow. A loan bid for Ramsdale was rejected earlier this month and Southampton are expected to submit an improved offer that includes an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, although Arsenal would prefer an agreement that contains an obligation to buy.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace look set to sign Maxence Lacroix after agreeing a deal worth up to €21m with Wolfsburg for the French defender. Palace’s initial offer worth up to £14m for Lacroix – who played under Oliver Glasner during his spell in charge of Wolfsburg – was rejected but Palace returned with a new bid that will see them pay €18m (£15.1m) up front with €3m in potential add-ons. The 24-year-old had entered the final year of his contract and is believed to have been keen to reunite with Glasner.
It is understood that Palace have yet to receive a new bid from Newcastle for captain Marc Guehi having rejected several previous offers. The England defender played the entirety of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win against Norwich. – Guardian
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