LIVERPOOL are set to let Federico Chiesa leave the club on loan this month, according to reports.
Chiesa has struggled for game time for The Reds since joining from Juventus in the summer in a deal worth up to £12.5m.
The Italian winger has been hit with injuries and fitness issues that have meant he has only managed to feature four times under Arne Slot since his arrival on Merseyside.
Two of those appearances have come in the Carabao Cup, with one in the Champions League and an 18-minute cameo in the Premier League.
Reports from French outlet Foot Mercato claim that Chiesa is now preparing to leave Liverpool on loan in search of regular minutes.
It’s said that the 27-year-old has been advised by Italian national coach Luciano Spalletti that he can be reintegrated into the national setup if he is able to revitalise his season in Italy.
Serie A league leaders Napoli, currently managed by Antonio Conte, are thought to be the front runners for his signature.
Fiorentina and Inter have also been linked, but Napoli are best-placed to secure his services.
It’s claimed that Chiesa’s agent, Fali Ramadani, held a meeting with Liverpool‘s representatives in which both parties agreed to allow the forward to leave on loan this month.
However, there could be a number of stumbling blocks in negotiations.
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Chiesa’s £150,000-per-week salary is said to be complicating things, despite Liverpool accepting they would have to cover a chunk of the Italian’s pay packet.
While it’s also reported that Napoli would like to insert a buy-option in the deal, something Liverpool are reluctant to agree on.
Napoli are expected to submit a six-month loan bid in the coming days as negotiations continue between all parties.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was quizzed about Chiesa’s lack of game time in recent weeks, with the Dutchman putting it down to fitness.
He said: “Federico, I’ve said it several times, we’re working on two things, we’re working on his match fitness and whenever we can, we try to integrate him into the team.
“He was on the bench during the week and we thought it was better for him to have a few extra training sessions rather than join us.
“It’s a constant balance that we have to find between getting him fitter and fitter and letting him join the team.”
Chiesa’s current terms at Liverpool run until the summer of 2028.
Any buy-option included in a loan deal would likely have to exceed the £12.5m Liverpool put up in the summer in order for the Anfield outfit to agree on a switch.
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