Liverpool made some spectacular transactions in the summer transfer window, as Richard Hughes ensured the Reds got the best possible deal for some of the world’s most extraordinary talents.
The Reds’ sporting director might have taken 2024 to settle into his new role, while trying to support Arne Slot in whichever way he could as the Dutchman gently transitioned to his new life in England, but he certainly made sure to hit the ground running in 2025, pulling off some remarkable transfers.
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Youngsters with relatively little experience of senior football were moved on for eye-watering fees, record breakers Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were convinced to re-locate and a lot of players were given the opportunities they desired abroad, with Slot opting for a slim-lined first-team squad.
With the January transfer window now just around the corner, it’s time for the club to enter a new chapter and we could see Hughes pull off a genius deal to start 2026 with a real showing of intent.
How Liverpool can facilitate Chiesa’s desire
Despite the fans’ best wishes, Federico Chiesa can’t seem to get on Slot’s right side and be given a run in the team to prove himself as a valuable member of the squad. Instead, he’s feeding off scraps.
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In 492 minutes on the pitch, the 28-year-old has two goals and three assists. There can be no doubt whatsoever that he’s talented and he has the mindset to succeed at Liverpool after last season was a campaign to forget – even though the Reds won the Premier League.
But his availability every week and his teammates’ struggles haven’t been enough for Slot to consider the Italian in the starting XI on a regular enough basis. It feels like he may need to leave.
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Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend showcased how big an impact players with pace can have against the deep-block, providing a different outlet when the Reds are lacking a bit of intent.
And it’s now been revealed that Hughes could pull off a swap deal which solves both of the two issues – Chiesa would benefit from a new environment and Liverpool could upgrade on the Italian.
All signs point to Yildiz
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Chiesa is still favoured at his former club Juventus.
He would be approached for a loan move with an option to buy, if Liverpool felt inclined to let him go, although the Old Lady are also considering other targets at this stage, so nothing is guaranteed.
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But if they were to entertain the idea, then we could see the Reds attempt to replace Chiesa with another one of Juventus’s attackers, as 20-year-old winger Kenan Yildiz is a long-term target.
According to Tuttosport, another Italian report that is referenced in GiveMeSport’s update on the young forward, Liverpool are not just tacking him, but also making phone calls to add an extra element of urgency to his ongoing contract talks with Juventus.
The negotiations a new deal have sprung up because of how popular the player is around Europe and it’s understood that his contract until 2029, on the existing wage package, is not sufficient.
Liverpool have the potential to offer Chiesa and a lump sum to Juventus to secure Yildiz and solve a lot of the issues that Slot squad still has. The Turkish player has proved he can be a difference-maker and the lack of dynamism in the Reds’ forward group is clear for all to see.
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Whether such a proposal would be entertained by the Italian club is another story, and it wouldn’t be straightforward to put the plan into action given all the moving pieces, but it would the type of genius deal that we’ve seen Richard Hughes orchestrate in the past. It’s a distinct possibility.
