Liverpool identify possible Luis Diaz transfer replacement as £150m Saudi Arabia bid hope clear

Liverpool transfer news with the latest headlines and rumours from Anfield including a take on the reports from Liverpool Echo

A summer of change awaits Liverpool.

With a new head coach already appointed and a shift in the hierarchy of decision makers, it promises to be an exciting future at Anfield. There is plenty to do in the coming weeks and months to prepare for Arne Slot’s first season, though.

The Dutchman arrives with the intention of making a smooth transition from the Jurgen Klopp era. That is easier said than done as a new world awaits Liverpool.

Chiesa hope

Liverpool are said to be planning a move to sign Juventus forward Federico Chiesa on a cut-price deal. Italian reports suggest that with his contract running out next summer there is a chance to pick him up for a bargain fee after years of links.

Chiesa managed nine goals in Serie A last year, a big improvement following the injury-hit 2022/23 season. With the Old Lady set to change management again this summer as Thiago Motta moves towards an appointment, Chiesa has been touted as someone that could be let go.

The 26-year-old is so far yet to make progress towards extending his stay in Turin and will be available for free next summer if no agreement is made. In January it will be possible for him to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs across Europe.

The ECHO says: This feels needlessly risky and extremely unlikely. Liverpool revamping their attack may make sense, especially with uncertainty over the future of Mohamed Salah, and even Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz, but Chiesa being the answer doesn’t sit right.

Chiesa hasn’t been on top form since Euro 2020 (in 2021) and there are concerns over his injury record. There just isn’t much here shouting Slot’s name or Liverpool’s methods. The base-level statistics don’t do Chiesa many favours, either, so with a reported asking price of £52million it doesn’t hold up that Liverpool’s think tank would pick him out.

Sure, if Diaz was to go then Chiesa on the left in theory is a like-for-like, but in this scenario there are better options for cheaper out there.