It might have taken the Reds sporting director 2024 to settle into his new role, as he tried to support Arne Slot in any way he could as the Dutchman made a smooth transition to his new life in England, but he certainly made sure to hit the ground running in 2025, pulling off some notable transfers.
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Youngsters with relatively little experience in senior football were let go for eye-watering fees, record-breakers Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were persuaded to move and many players were given the opportunities they wanted abroad, with Slot opting for a reduced first team.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, it’s time for the club to enter a new chapter and we could see Hughes pull off a great deal to start 2026 with a real show of intent.
How Liverpool can facilitate Chiesa’s wish
Despite the best wishes of the fans, Federico Chiesa does not seem to be able to position himself on the right side of Slot and have a place in the team to prove that he is a valuable member of the team. Instead, he feeds on scraps.
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In 492 minutes on the pitch, the 28-year-old player has two goals and three assists. There can be no doubt that he is talented and has the mentality to succeed at Liverpool after last season was a campaign to forget, despite the Reds winning the Premier League.
But his availability every week and the difficulties of his teammates have not been enough for Slot to consider the Italian in the starting eleven with sufficient regularity. It looks like you might need to leave.
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Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend showed what a huge impact players with pace can have against the deep block, providing a different outlet when the Reds lack a bit of intent.
And now it has been revealed that Hughes could strike a swap deal that solves both problems, with Chiesa benefiting from a new environment and Liverpool being able to upgrade the Italian.
All signs point to Yildiz
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Chiesa remains the favorite at his former club Juventus.
He would be approached for a loan deal with an option to buy, should Liverpool feel inclined to let him go, although the Old Lady is 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 try to replace Chiesa with another of Juventus’ attackers, with 20-year-old winger Kenan Yildiz a long-term target.
According to Tuttosport, another Italian report referenced in GiveMeSport’s update on the young striker, Liverpool are not only signing him but are also making phone calls to add an extra element of urgency to their ongoing contract negotiations with Juventus.
Negotiations for a new deal have arisen due to the player’s popularity in Europe and it is understood that his contract until 2029, with the existing wage package, is not sufficient.
Liverpool have the potential to offer Chiesa and a lump sum to Juventus to secure Yildiz and resolve many of the issues Slot’s side still have. The Turkish player has shown that he can make a difference and the lack of dynamism in the Reds’ forward line is evident to everyone.
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Whether the Italian club would consider such a proposal is another story, and it wouldn’t be easy to put the plan into action given all the moving pieces, but it would be the kind of genius deal we’ve seen Richard Hughes orchestrate in the past. It is a clear possibility.