Liverpool are on the verge of winning the Premier League title.
The Reds have had a brilliant season. They have lost just two games all campaign, and now need just a point to confirm their status as champions.
Arne Slot deserves enormous praise for achieving this in his very first season in English football. It’s not an easy feat at all, but the Dutchman and his players are about to do it.
Several Liverpool players have stepped up and delivered this season, but Paul Merson has some sympathy for one Reds star who hasn’t had the kind of campaign he would’ve liked.
Paul Merson tells Liverpool not to sell Federico Chiesa this summer
Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa in a £12.5 million deal last summer (Sky Sports).
Juventus had no place for the Italian anymore, and after weeks of speculation and links to different clubs, the Reds secured a deal to sign him.
Many people viewed Liverpool signing Chiesa as a ‘no-brainer’ because of his quality and the price tag, but things just haven’t worked out for him.
Injuries have troubled the Italian this season, but even when he has been fit, Slot has barely used him – Chiesa has played just 395 minutes of football in all competitions.
TBR Football exclusively revealed at the turn of the year that Chiesa is ‘hugely frustrated’ at Liverpool and that the Reds were ready to let him go in the winter window.
No move materialised then, but many expect Chiesa to be sold once the upcoming summer transfer window opens.
Merson, however, has urged Slot to keep Chiesa.
He wrote on Sportskeeda: “I know Federico Chiesa hasn’t been involved regularly, but if they have the option to keep him, they should in my opinion.
“He has just been unlucky. I mean, how do you get into that front three?
“Liverpool did not have many injuries this season, but that could change next year. Salah will also be away for the Africa Cup of Nations next season, so it makes sense for them to keep Chiesa at the club.”
Chiesa is among several players Liverpool could sell
It is a shame that Chiesa’s move to Liverpool has not worked out.
The Italy international is a fantastic player and has shown flashes of his quality under Slot. But, for one reason or another, he hasn’t got enough opportunities.
That is why Chiesa is unhappy, and reports have claimed that the former Juventus man is among five players Liverpool are ready to sell this summer.
The other four are Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota.
Darwin Nunez is also likely to leave Liverpool, while there has been a lot of speculation about Luis Diaz’s future at Anfield as well.
It remains to be seen if Liverpool’s stance on Chiesa will change if Nunez and Diaz leave.
