‘He feels like a prisoner’ – Liverpool star tipped to quit after latest Arne Slot snub
Liverpool have been told that a first-team player is likely to quit following a major snub by manager Arne Slot.
It was a superb summer transfer window for the Reds, with Alexander Isak’s move to Anfield following big-money deals for Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.
However, one player who has been the victim of the incomings is Federico Chiesa, who was left at home for the last two games, against Atletico Madrid and Everton.
Chiesa is missing from Liverpool’s Champions League squad entirely, but his omission from the Merseyside derby proves he is unlikely to get minutes in the Premier League either.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the 27-year-old is now likely to move on at the earliest possible opportunity.
Arne Slot doesn’t fancy Federico Chiesa, something must have gone on
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that Chiesa feels like a prisoner at Liverpool, as a result of his lack of game time.
The Italian did score a vital late goal in the Reds’ 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, but has made just three substitute appearances since then.
Wyness added that something has clearly gone on behind the scenes at Liverpool, between Chiesa and Slot.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “All the noise coming out from his agent and other areas is that yes, he feels like he’s a prisoner in Liverpool.
“You make him one of your top signings and don’t put him in the squad, Arne Slot must not fancy him. I don’t understand what’s going on because he seems to have a decent record.
“Particularly in Europe, they are the sort of games that you would want to play him in. So there’s obviously something that’s gone on, and I do expect him to move on.”
Liverpool keeping tabs on Ibrahima Konate replacement
Meanwhile, Liverpool are continuing to keep tabs on Marc Guehi as the long-term replacement for Ibrahima Konate, sources have told Football Insider.
Real Madrid chiefs think they are close to signing Konate, with the Frenchman’s contract at Anfield expiring next summer.
Despite falling at the last hurdle on transfer deadline day, sources say that Liverpool are confident of beating Manchester City to Guehi.
The Palace club captain looks likely to run down his contract to either bag a cut-priced move in the January transfer window or leave the south London side on a free next summer.
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