The player who wants to leave Liverpool, but has already been told he won't leave in January

Federico Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus last summer, has had limited involvement with the English club, sparking rumours of a possible return to Italy. However, his high wages are being presented as an obstacle for interested Serie A clubs, including AC Milan.

Limited Liverpool involvement:

Since his arrival at Anfield, Chiesa has only made four appearances, most of them in the Carabao Cup. The 26-year-old winger spent almost three months on the sidelines between September and December, returning as a substitute against Southampton in the Carabao Cup a week before Christmas.

Interest from Italy, but with a salary hurdle:

Due to his lack of minutes, Chiesa has been linked with a return to Italy. A report from Calcio Mercato mentions interest from AC Milan, Roma and Inter Milan. However, the report also notes that Chiesa's net salary of $7.8 million a year represents a major hurdle for these clubs. It is suggested that a loan with Liverpool covering part of the salary could be a solution to facilitate a deal.

Chiesa's current situation at Liverpool:

Chiesa was absent from Liverpool's squad for the game against Tottenham before Christmas due to illness, and was a substitute against Leicester on Boxing Day. In late November, manager Arne Slot stated that he had not considered the possibility of offloading Chiesa in January, despite persistent rumours in Italy.

Slot commented on Chiesa's return against Southampton: "I saw ups and downs. I saw some really good moments and I saw some moments where I felt like, 'Okay, you can do better than this.' For me, that's completely normal if a player has been out for so long, he plays his first game in five or six months, probably (three months)."

Other interested clubs:

As well as interest from Milan and Roma clubs, Chiesa was also recently linked with Serie A leaders Atalanta. However, again, his current salary was mentioned as a possible obstacle.

In summary:

Federico Chiesa has had little involvement at Liverpool since his arrival.

AC Milan, Roma and Inter Milan are interested in his return to Italy.

Chiesa's high salary ($7.8 million a year) is an obstacle for Italian clubs.

A loan with Liverpool paying part of the salary could be a solution.

Arne Slot stated in late November that he had not considered Chiesa's departure in January.

Atalanta have also shown interest, but the player's salary represents a similar problem.

Implications:

Federico Chiesa's situation at Liverpool seems uncertain. His lack of minutes on the pitch has generated interest in Italy, but his high salary makes negotiations difficult. The possibility of Liverpool assuming part of the salary on loan could open the door to a return to Serie A, but so far there is nothing concrete. It will be important to keep a close eye on further news regarding the player's future in the winter transfer market.