83-goal Liverpool sensation now being monitored by two Euro giants
Liverpool still have a lot of changes to make to their first-team squad.
The Anfield outfit brought four new players through the Anfield doors over the summer but, there are still a couple of areas among their ranks that could do with an upgrade or two.
In fact, Mohamed Salah hasn't even been replaced yet so, it's clear that plenty of change is still afoot.
However, for Liverpool to make these moves, some of their current players will have to be moved on and, since the Reds will still have three changes available to them for their Champions League squad, they'll definitely be open to welcoming some new players.
Indeed, the club did have a massive clear-out last summer but, it still feels like there are a couple of players who have stuck around that Liverpool could easily get rid of.
Federico Chiesa is on the shortlists of Atletico Madrid and Valencia
Federico Chiesa is always going to be a bit of a curious case at Liverpool.
Five or six years ago, transfer fees worth well over £50 million were being discussed for his potential exit from Juventus but, thanks to the torn ACL he suffered back in 2022, he's never been quite the same.
Indeed, Liverpool did end up taking Chiesa away from Turin for around £10 million which, at the time, felt like an absolute bargain.
However, with all of his injuries and his lack of form taken into account, he's basically been a bench warmer with maybe a handful of good performances to his name.
Each transfer window, he's linked with a move away from L4 and, now that he's been left out of the Reds' Champions League squad again, the rumour mill has started to turn with Calcio Mercato sharing that the attacker is on the shortlists of two massive clubs.
"But where could Chiesa go? In the last few hours, some hypotheses that had already been circulating in January have been relaunched. These hypotheses point to Spain," Calciomercato wrote.
"The first concerns Valencia , who had already been linked to the 1997-born player this summer. The Murciélagos are going through a very difficult period and the start of this season has been a merciless reflection of this.
"Valencia is bottom of the LaLiga table with just one point after four matchdays and has lost the last three and the situation is extremely tense.
"For this reason, new additions are being considered, and this could be Chiesa's chance to find more playing time. Valencia already has a direct link to Liverpool, from whom they acquired Harvey Elliott on loan with the specific mission of ensuring he plays consistently: the deal could be repeated.
"The other hypothesis, Atletico Madrid , is a different story .
"Diego Simeone's team is in a period of reconstruction, sixth in the league table and defeated in their Champions League debut, curiously in Liverpool.
"Cholo plays with two wingers in midfield, a tactical solution that suits Chiesa's abilities, and alternatives to Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena may be needed. Unlike at Valencia, however, Chiesa would struggle significantly to find playing time in Madrid.
"Hypotheses and rumors: Chiesa's future remains a puzzle to be solved."
Liverpool have to sell Federico Chiesa
Even though Chiesa is technically the only natural right-winger among Liverpool's ranks at the moment, it's clear that he's not in Iraola's plans.
The Spaniard has actually started to talk up other players among his squad such as Lewis Koumas which has further proven his point.
As much as Liverpool's fans want Chiesa to succeed at Anfield, nothing has gone to plan for him and, even with a new manager at the helm, it still feels like he has no chance at all to feature.
Indeed, he could end up being used as Alexander Isak's back-up but, again, that honour feels like it's going to Koumas until Hugo Ekitike returns from injury.
So, with all of this taken into account, it's now more than clear why the 83-goal star needs to be moved on.
Several clubs from across the globe are likely to take a chance on him due to how cheap he'll be so, there's no way that Liverpool will be short of suitors for him.
However, whether they lose money, make a profit or break even, will all depend on how good their new sporting directors negotiating skills are.