🚨⚽Bad news for Nunez: Liverpool have contract ready to land “galactico”

‍Liverpool have yet to make any signings this summer, which may be unexpected given the appointment of a new manager. Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer, and while he has had an ideal start with two victories from two matches, his team has not yet brought in any new players.

However, with only hours remaining in the transfer window, things could change for the Dutch manager. The Reds are reportedly pursuing a player who could provide additional strength and depth in the attacking lineup.

**Liverpool’s Interest in a Serie A Winger**

The player in question is Juventus and Italy international winger Federico Chiesa. According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool is close to finalizing personal terms with Chiesa, with a “four-year contract ready” following discussions earlier in the week.

This follows reports by David Ornstein indicating that Chiesa could be transferred to Anfield for a surprisingly low fee of approximately £13 million. Romano added, however, that a formal agreement on the transfer fee is yet to be finalized.

**Why Chiesa Would Be a Strong Addition**

In the previous season, the 26-year-old winger made 33 appearances in Serie A for Juventus, scoring nine goals and providing three assists. Additionally, he scored once in four appearances in the Italian Cup, contributing to Juventus’s cup victory.

During the 2023/24 Serie A season, Chiesa, a former Fiorentina player, ranked second for combined goals and assists, according to Sofascore, with his total of 11 only surpassed by Dusan Vlahovic, who had 20 goal involvements.

Chiesa’s 11 goal contributions last season would have ranked him fourth among Liverpool players, trailing five others, including three who recorded 13 goals and assists. Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah led the way with 28 contributions, according to Sofascore.

Darwin Nunez, who ranked just above Chiesa on that list in second place, has faced challenges since his initial £64 million move from Benfica, scoring 33 goals in 97 matches for Liverpool. The 25-year-old has recently been linked with a potential move away from Anfield, with Arsenal rumored to be interested. The Reds might be considering Chiesa as a possible replacement for the former Benfica striker.

Under Klopp, Nunez proved versatile, capable of playing as a left-winger or center-forward. It seems likely Slot would use him similarly, so if Liverpool decides to offload their record signing before Friday’s deadline, they may want to find a replacement with similar versatility.

Fortunately for Liverpool, Chiesa, Juventus’s number seven, is one of Europe’s most adaptable attackers, which he has consistently demonstrated during his time in the black and white stripes of Juventus.

Even if Liverpool retains their Uruguayan forward beyond the transfer window, this could spell trouble for Nunez. Given Chiesa’s versatility and comparable goal-scoring record, he might be seen as a direct substitute for Nunez.

With Nunez already starting the season on the bench, adding another attacker could further complicate his prospects of becoming a key figure at Anfield.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson referred to Chiesa as a “galactico,” and it is clear to see why. Despite struggling last season, Chiesa remains a dynamic and versatile forward who could be the perfect replacement for Nunez in Slot’s plans.