“I wouldn’t be shocked” – Fabrizio Romano suggests a possible surprise January departure for Liverpool star

Fabrizio Romano has shared fresh details regarding the future of Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa.

The Italian forward made a bright start to the season, often making an impact as a substitute, but consistent playing time under Arne Slot has been hard to come by.

Chiesa, who was linked with a move away from Anfield in the summer, ultimately chose to stay and fight for his place. However, things haven’t gone as planned. Despite Slot appreciating his attitude and performances in training, that hasn’t translated into regular minutes on the pitch.

With Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo preferred in the wide roles, Chiesa continues to struggle for opportunities—even amid Liverpool’s recent poor run of form. Unless his situation changes soon, a January departure looks possible.

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Romano explained:

> “It’s been a strange start to the season for Chiesa. At first, the plan was for him to leave, but things changed multiple times with Slot and the club. Chiesa genuinely wants to finish the season at Liverpool and then review his future. He really wants to stay and compete for his spot.

“Of course, he also needs to play. If that doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t be surprised if Italian clubs make another move for him in January. For now, both Liverpool and Chiesa want to continue together, but it’s not an easy situation.”

Chiesa’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain. While he still hopes to prove himself and stay, limited game time could force a rethink—especially with his ambition to return to Italy’s national team under Gennaro Gattuso ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Despite his popularity among fans for his energetic cameos, Chiesa is growing frustrated with his lack of minutes and feels his Liverpool career hasn’t gone as he hoped.