Clear Federico Chiesa transfer plan emerges as forward told he is manager's favourite

Liverpool opted to trade up in attack last summer.

Sporting director Richard Hughes was content to allow Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez leave while fringe winger Ben Gannon-Doak also departed.

In their place came Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz. One player who REMAINED at the club through the shakeup - despite many rumours that he too would go - was Federico Chiesa.

Federico Chiesa bounces back this season

The Italian endured a difficult first season at Anfield following his £12.5m transfer from Juventus. Although the campaign ended with him claiming a Premier League winners’ medal, he only managed around 100 minutes of action in the top flight overall.

Over the summer Arne Slot left the 28-year-old out of his travelling party for the preseason tour to Asia and the writing appeared on the wall for the winger.

However Chiesa knuckled down and earned a place in the Premier League picture for the 2025/26 season. The former Fiorentina star has scored two Premier League goals - finally looking like the Mo Salah fill-in he was signed to be.

Chiesa remains a favourite of Antonio Conte

But the player under contract until 2028 could be offloaded in January if reports in Area Napoli are to be believed.

Antonio Conte has got a “clear” plan to bring Chiesa on board - with the Liverpool man ahead of Ademola Lookman in the Napoli manager’s estimations.

Transfer market consultant Andrea Di Lella told AreaNapoli's YouTube channel: "Federico Chiesa or Ademola Lookman? The winger currently at Liverpool would be more suited to Antonio Conte's game.

"The Salento manager's desire to focus on the Italian is clear. Chiesa is a particular favourite of Conte's."

Napoli need Scudetto boost

Napoli are the defending Serie A champions but like Liverpool their title defence has floundered in recent weeks. Kevin De Bruyne is injured and summer signing Noa Lang is just not doing it.

And so a deal for Chiesa might be just the recipe for Conte and his Napoli side to get their title defence back on track.

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