Report: Liverpool star prepared to reduce terms for former club return | OneFootball

Federico Chiesa, a Pay Cut and a Complicated Way Home to Juventus

There is a particular sadness to a footballer who is no longer required. Not discarded, not exiled, simply unused. Federico Chiesa, once one of Italy’s most electric wide forwards and a symbol of Juventus’ post-Ronaldo regeneration, now exists in that uncomfortable space. At Liverpool, minutes have been scarce, confidence harder to find, and relevance increasingly conditional.

As reported by Calciomercato, Chiesa has played only a peripheral role this season, starting just four matches across all competitions and totalling barely over 500 minutes of football. For a player who once stretched defences by instinct and menace, the numbers read like an afterthought. And so the conversation has shifted — away from what Chiesa might become, and towards where he might belong again.

That place, increasingly, looks like Turin.

UEFA Champions League Matchday 5 of 8 Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven Federico Chiesa of Liverpool reacts to a missed shot on goal during the UEFA Champions League Matchday 5 of 8 Liverpool vs PSV Eindhoven at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 26th November 2025 Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images Liverpool Anfield Merseyside United Kingdom Copyright: xAlfiexCosgrove/NewsxImagesx

Reduced Role at Liverpool Shapes January Reality

Chiesa’s situation is defined not by conflict, but by absence. He is not central to Arne Slot’s plans, nor does he appear close to becoming so. Even in moments of opportunity — such as the recent draw against Burnley — his involvement has been fleeting. Four minutes here, a late cameo there. Enough to remind, not enough to matter.

The return of Mohamed Salah from international duty only sharpens that reality. Liverpool’s attacking hierarchy is settled at the top, and Chiesa, for all his pedigree, sits below it. The problem is not talent; it is timing. He arrived at a club in transition, but one that still requires immediate efficiency rather than patient rediscovery.

For Juventus, this context matters. Clubs do not negotiate in isolation; they negotiate against circumstance. And right now, Chiesa’s circumstance weakens Liverpool’s leverage, even if their stated position remains firm.

Juventus Interest Driven by Familiarity and Fit

Juventus’ interest is not nostalgic, but practical. The squad lacks penetration from wide areas, particularly players capable of destabilising a defence without elaborate structure. Chiesa, even diminished, still offers that. More importantly, he understands the club, the expectations, and the tactical compromises demanded in Serie A.

As Calciomercato notes, Juventus see him as an ideal reinforcement for their attacking rotations — someone who can operate wide or between the lines, depending on need. Yet this is not a reunion built on sentiment. It is shaped by limits. Financial ones above all.

Juventus are unwilling — and unable — to meet Liverpool’s valuation of between €15m and €20m outright. They are pushing instead for a loan with an option to buy, a structure that reflects both caution and realism.

Pay Cut Signals Player Willingness to Return

Perhaps the most revealing detail in this story is not tactical or financial, but personal. Chiesa, according to reports, is open to a significant pay cut to facilitate a return to Juventus. His current salary of around €7.5m per year is beyond what the club can sustain. That he is willing to compromise speaks to intent.

Players rarely surrender income lightly. When they do, it suggests clarity. Chiesa wants football. He wants relevance. And he wants a context in which he is trusted rather than tolerated.

That willingness strengthens Juventus’ hand. It also applies quiet pressure on Liverpool, whose asset depreciates with every unused week. January windows are short, but they are unforgiving to unresolved situations.

Transfer Structure Remains Central Obstacle

Despite all this, the deal remains fragile. Liverpool favour a permanent sale. Juventus insist on a loan. Between those positions sits the familiar standoff of modern football economics — valuation versus utility, principle versus pragmatism.

Yet time is rarely neutral. With Salah returning, Chiesa’s pathway narrows further. Juventus know this. So does the player. The coming days may not resolve everything, but they will reveal priorities.

For Chiesa, the equation appears simple: fewer guarantees, lower wages, but a chance to feel central again. For Juventus, it is about calculated risk. And for Liverpool, it is deciding whether a high asking price is worth more than resolution.

Sometimes, a pay cut is not a concession. It is a statement.