Liverpool summer signing Federico Chiesa could be set for a return to Serie A just months after departing, according to reports in Italy.
The winger has endured a difficult time making an impression at Anfield and has played just 78 minutes as he attempts to adjust to life in the Premier League and deals with injury. Chiesa was signed for an inital £10million in August as the Reds completed just one incoming transfer as they missed out on Martin Zubimendi and saw Giorgi Mamardashvili head immediately on loan.
The Italy international has struggled to maintain his fitness amid the intensity levels of the Premier League following his summer transfer from Juventus. Boss Arne Slot believes missing pre-season has proven problematic.
"It's difficult to say when he will return, it's frustrating for him to be in and out of training sessions," the Liverpool coach explained. "He missed the entire pre-season preparation and then [joined a league] where the intensity is higher than in Serie A. We continue to hope that he can provide a significant contribution when he is fit."
"That makes it difficult for him to make the step towards the intensity levels to where the rest of the team is at the moment," he added. "It has not so much to do with the Italian league or the Premier League but so much to do with him missing the entire pre-season."
Calciomercato report that Roma, Inter Milan and AC Milan are all sides who could gamble on making a January move for Chiesa, to resolve the situation temporarily. Chiesa has a deal until 2028 so has time to turn his fortunes around.
The Italian press even suggested the 'Slap from Slot' had merit with Tuttosport suggesting: "It’s now too common to feel embarrassed when comparing the intensity of one of our teams to that of an English, a German, a Spanish or even a French team."
The 26-year-old is not the only player to have made the jump from Italy to now have been pitched for a move back to Serie A. Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with a January switch to Juventus.
The ex-Bologna forward scored on his Premier League debut in August but has failed to find the net since. A deal to see Zirkzee reunite with ex-boss Thiago Motta could be struck ‘perhaps as early as January’, it is said.
Zirkzee joined United from Bologna in a record £36.5million deal for the Serie A side and signed a deal until 2029. There is an option to extend the 23-year-old's contract by a further year.