Fabrizio Romano has given an interesting update on Federico Chiesa’s future at Liverpool amid talk of a potential return to Italy.

Chiesa found game time hard to come by under Arne Slot throughout the Dutch manager’s reign. He started just one of 26 league games last season, and his lack of first-team opportunities led to speculation over a possible summer exit.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a return to Juventus, while Inter Milan and Napoli are thought to be monitoring his situation. He has two years left on his contract at Anfield, but might be persuaded to try to win over the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, during pre-season.

Iraola replaced Slot earlier this month and will want to assess his squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. That might mean the likes of Chiesa are given a fresh chance to prove themselves.

Liverpool Make Federico Chiesa Decision

Chiesa joined Liverpool from Juve in the summer of 2024 in a £12.5milion deal. He arrived with a strong reputation from his exploits in Serie A where he thrived in Turin.

The Italian winger has been unable to replicate his performances with the Old Lady while on Merseyside. That is largely down to Slot’s reluctance to use him despite other attackers struggling last season.

Romano delved into the situation regarding Chiesa and his future at Anfield. He alluded to rumours of a return to Italy while speaking on his YouTube channel:

“There are many questions regarding the name of Federico Chiesa – such as whether he could be a potential target for Juventus, he might join Inter as a right-winger, if there is the possibility that Napoli and Roma could return to him. Many of you are asking if Chiesa could be one of the protagonists of this transfer market.”

Romano explained that Liverpool have decided that he will participate in pre-season to allow Iraola to give his verdict:

“At the present time, the decision made by the Liverpool player is to participate in the pre-season, to get together with the new coach Andoni Iraola. Chiesa just wants to play his cards in pre-season at Liverpool.”

There is a chance that Chiesa will be given more first-team football next season following Mohamed Salah’s exit. The Egyptian is leaving the Reds, and the club are already looking for a replacement.

Chiesa Deserves a Chance Under Iraola

via Reuters

Chiesa has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of during his time on the pitch for Liverpool. He is an exciting attacker who often comes up with important goals, and perhaps Iraola will take a liking to him.

The Reds are reportedly set to make a second bid for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who is viewed as Salah’s replacement. The Ivorian is only 19, and thus, if he is signed, it’s important he is eased into the first team without putting too much pressure on him.

Chiesa, described as “underappreciated” while at Juve, can play on either wing or as the focal point of his side’s attack. His output wasn’t great last season, managing three goals and as many assists in 36 games across competitions.

It’s important to note that most of those appearances came off the bench, and he had been used as a bit-part player under Slot. That might change now that Iraola is in the dugout, and judging from his time at Bournemouth, he likes coaching adaptable players.

Manchester United may be able to get themselves a clear run at a Barcelona star if they make some room in their midfield. Strictly speaking, the Red Devils need to add players to their midfield, and that is very much the plan as Michael Carrick looks to replace Casemiro.

Ederson has already been signed from Atalanta, but United are hoping to add a marquee signing to their midfield, but there could be more business done in the middle of the park, both in terms of an incoming and an outgoing.

One upgrade United should consider is Mason Mount, who has had a mixed time at Old Trafford so far.

Man Utd already like Casadó

United have liked the look of Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó for some time. The 22-year-old is said to be on the lookout for a new club this summer having struggled for regular game time last season. He did make 24 league appearances, but the young Spaniard is not a regular starter, and that is not likely to change next season, given the strength of Barca’s squad.

It was reported that Casadó would prefer to fight for his spot in the long-term but go out on loan in the meantime to continue his development, but his plan seems to have shifted, likely in the wake of unlikely opportunities going forward.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Casadó’s agent, the famed Jorge Mendes, has offered his services to AC Milan, who are on the lookout for an out-and-out midfielder this summer.

Milan, who will be coached by former United boss Ruben Amorim, are said to be evaluating their options ahead of a Europa League campaign. Meanwhile, Barca are said to be asking for between €20million and €30million to sign their La Masia academy graduate this summer, and that could interest a number of clubs, including United.

Man Utd could be about to sacrifice Mount

An interesting factor is that AC Milan, according to MilanPress, are considering United’s Mount as a possible target as they sound out midfielders. Mount has battled injury issues aplenty at Old Trafford, but the 27-year-old did manage a steady campaign of last, making 23 Premier League appearances, and he was valued by Carrick.

Mount is under contract until 2028, having arrived on a £55million deal from Chelsea in 2023, but it’s unclear what United would get for him now.

But if the Red Devils want a clear opportunity to sign Casadó, they could move to upgrade on Mount by selling him to Milan, taking the Italians out of the picture for Casadó, and they could likely sign the young Spaniard without any surplus, with Mount surely commanding at least £25million to £30million.

It seems unlikely Mount will be a regular starter for the Red Devils next season, given the addition of Ederson and the likely addition of another starting midfielder, and in Casadó, described in an analytical piece by Breaking The Lines as having the potential to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, they can sign a player who is likely already of a similar level, and he still has time to develop at the age of 22. It also goes without saying that Mount is not typically reliable in terms of availability due to injuries, and selling him at a later date could become tricky.

Alan Shearer ranks among the most lethal goalscorers English football has ever produced. He remains the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, a record that looks unlikely to be broken anytime soon after Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich in 2023. He also found the net regularly for the Three Lions during his international career.

As clinical as the former Newcastle United striker was, it would not be right to give him sole credit for the remarkable numbers he posted. It undoubtedly helped that he was playing with some of the finest footballers around at the time. During his spell with England, Shearer lined up alongside some outstanding players and, in an article with The Sun, he named his ultimate XI made up of those former teammates.

Here’s a look at who he chose.

Goalkeeper – David Seaman

One of the finest goalkeepers England has produced, David Seaman represented the Three Lions with distinction, earning 75 caps across a 14-year international career. Whether playing for his country or clubs such as Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal, the shot-stopper was a dependable presence between the sticks and, given the other goalkeepers Shearer played with for England, it is easy to see why Seaman gets the nod here.

He may not quite sit alongside Gordon Banks or Peter Shilton at the very top of the list of England No.1s, but Seaman is not far away. There is little doubt that he was the standout English goalkeeper of his era.

Right-Back – Gary Neville

As Manchester United’s greatest right-back and one of England’s best in the position, it would have been a major shock had Shearer omitted Gary Neville from his XI. He is perhaps best known now for his work as a television pundit covering the beautiful game, but as entertaining as that has been, it does not compare to what he achieved on the football pitch.

A reliable leader and consistently trustworthy performer, Neville was central to several versions of a dominant United side. No matter how often Ferguson reshaped his squad, the Englishman remained a regular fixture on the right side of the defence.

Centre-Back – Tony Adams

Few defenders were as uncompromising as Tony Adams, making him an ideal figure to command the centre of a backline. The Arsenal legend was aggressive, determined and a superb leader. His ability to read the game was exceptional as well. Opposition forwards often found him extremely difficult to deal with and he rarely had much trouble keeping them quiet.

Adams was never known for speed of technical quality, but as his career developed, he also became increasingly comfortable bringing the ball out from the back as Arsene Wenger revolutionised the Gunners’ style of play. In that respect, he was ahead of his time. There is a reason he is viewed as one of the Premier League’s finest defenders.

Centre-Back – Gareth Southgate

Long before he became one of England’s most successful managers, guiding the Three Lions to two major tournament finals, Gareth Southgate made his name as a defender on the pitch. Sadly, his most remembered moment in an England shirt remains his missed decisive penalty as the nation were eliminated by Germany in the Euro 1996 semi-finals via penalty shootout.

Even so, beyond that painful episode, Southgate enjoyed a strong international career. He represented his country 57 times and was a dependable leader throughout. He is a solid choice for Shearer’s team. Grey never suited him though.

Left-Back – Stuart Pearce

With the nickname ‘Psycho’, Stuart Pearce was among the most intimidating and uncompromising players on the pitch whenever he featured. He was the kind of no-nonsense footballer that is rarely seen in the modern game, which is part of why he remains so fondly remembered today.

Getting on the wrong side of the former Nottingham Forest man could have been a serious problem for an opponent, but as a teammate, he was exactly the sort of player anyone would want beside them. Shearer evidently felt the same, selecting him in this team of his greatest England teammates.

Great penalty taker to boot.

Defensive Midfielder – Paul Ince

Rather than naming a conventional XI with wingers and two central midfielders, Shearer opted for a more inventive setup by including a defensive midfielder as part of a midfield diamond. That allowed him to pick Paul Ince and work him into the side. The former United midfielder was one of the major figures in the early Premier League years and is still regarded as one of United’s greatest ever central midfielders.

Ince spent eight years in and around the England setup and earned 53 caps during that time. He may have become slightly underrated with the passing of time, but Shearer clearly has not forgotten just how influential ‘the Guv’nor’ was.

Central Midfielder – David Beckham

Deciding not to use traditional wingers in his ultimate XI could easily have left some of England’s most gifted names out of Shearer’s team. His answer was simple: move David Beckham into central midfield. The former United star was most often deployed on the right flank, but he could also operate in the middle when required, and Shearer made use of that versatility.

Beckham is considered one of the greatest passers of the 21st century and one of the greatest set piece takers of all time. So even in a less natural role, it makes sense that Shearer has found a way to get him into the team.

Central Midfielder – Paul Scholes

Alongside Beckham, Shearer included a far more natural centre-mid in Paul Scholes. Not only was the position his natural home, but the ex-United star is widely considered one of the Premier League’s best ever midfielders. Frequently compared with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, Scholes is viewed by many as the greatest English midfielder of all-time.

Often shifted out wide to make room for Lampard and Gerrard, the United legend did not always get the ideal stage to show his full abilities for England. Still, if his Premier League performances were any indication, there is no doubt he could have made a major difference for the national side if used correctly.

Attacking Midfielder – Paul Gascoigne

A maverick in the truest sense, there has never really been anyone quite like Paul Gascoigne. His issues away from the pitch caused problems at points, but when he was focused and at his best, few players could match what the former Tottenham Hotspur man was able to do with the ball at his feet. He was a creative force.

With a player like Gascoigne in the side, there was always the possibility of something special happening, and Shearer clearly understood that. At his peak, very few attacking midfielders could get close to his level, especially among the players available during Shearer’s England career.

Striker – Teddy Sheringham

England had an impressive collection of forwards during the 1990s. In fact, there was so much attacking talent available that some very good players often had to settle for a place on the bench, or even find themselves omitted from squads entirely. One man who did earn plenty of minutes for the Three Lions, though, was Teddy Sheringham. The former Forest forward won 51 caps for his country, with much of his international career overlapping with Shearer’s own time in the squad.

Sheringham scored only 11 times for England but it was his ability to combine goals with linking play and creating opportunities for others – chiefly Shearer – which made him such a valuable commodity for the Three Lions.

Striker – Alan Shearer

Given his quality, it should not come as much of a surprise that Shearer decided to include himself in the team. During his spell with England, there was no better option to lead the line, and any side without him in it would clearly have been weaker. The former Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle striker scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for the Three Lions.

A return of close to one goal every other game is a strong record in international football, especially for Shearer’s era. It says plenty about Shearer’s extraordinary standards at club level that his England numbers can somehow look slightly modest by comparison.