Report: Liverpool star ‘seriously considering’ January exit | OneFootball

Liverpool weigh January decisions as Chiesa and Gomez futures come into focus

Liverpool are approaching the January transfer window with a growing sense that decisions delayed in the summer may soon need to be addressed. Internal discussions are ongoing around both recruitment and potential departures, with particular attention on Federico Chiesa’s lack of minutes and Joe Gomez’s long-term role under Arne Slot.

The club are not in a position of panic, but there is acknowledgement that squad balance has been tested. Injuries in defence, an uneven first half of the campaign and the looming international calendar have sharpened minds at Anfield. January has become less about opportunism and more about strategic necessity.

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Chiesa situation raises World Cup concerns

Federico Chiesa’s first months at Liverpool have not unfolded as expected. Signed with the hope that his explosiveness and versatility would add a different dimension to the attack, the Italy international has instead found himself on the fringes of selection. Fitness has been managed carefully, but opportunities have been limited, and that has inevitably triggered questions about his short-term future.

From Chiesa’s perspective, the situation is delicate. With the next World Cup cycle nearing its decisive phase, regular football is no longer a preference but a requirement. Italy staff continue to monitor his situation closely, and there is awareness that remaining a peripheral figure at Liverpool could damage his international prospects.

Liverpool, for their part, are not actively pushing Chiesa towards the exit. The belief internally is that he can still play an important role, particularly in a season where fixture congestion will intensify. However, should the player or his representatives seek clarity in January, the club are prepared to listen and assess options that suit all parties.

Gomez weighs next move after long Anfield service

Joe Gomez’s position is more clear-cut. Now Liverpool’s longest-serving player, he has seen his role diminish as tactical priorities and competition for places have evolved. While his versatility remains valued, consistent starts have been hard to come by, and that reality has not gone unnoticed by the player.

Sources close to the situation, according to Milan News, indicate that Gomez is seriously considering his future, with a move abroad viewed as an increasingly realistic possibility. Interest from AC Milan has been persistent, dating back to the summer, and while no formal bid is currently on the table, the dialogue has never fully gone quiet.

Gomez is understood to be pragmatic about his situation. At this stage of his career, minutes matter more than sentiment. With England places far from guaranteed, a move that offers regular football could represent his final realistic opportunity to force his way back into international contention.

Liverpool defensive numbers complicate January plans

Any decision on Gomez is intrinsically linked to Liverpool’s wider defensive picture. Injuries have already stretched resources, and allowing another centre-back to leave without reinforcement would be considered a significant risk. The club’s recruitment team have been active in identifying targets, but January deals remain complex and expensive.

The current stance is straightforward. Liverpool would only sanction Gomez’s departure if at least one, and ideally two, defensive additions are secured. That calculation is not just about depth, but about maintaining stability during a period when the margins are fine and competition across domestic and European fronts remains intense.

This balancing act has shaped Liverpool’s entire January approach. Outgoings are not being ruled out, but they are conditional, and every potential move is being assessed through the lens of squad resilience rather than short-term gain.

January window framed by pragmatism not overhaul

There will be no wholesale reset at Liverpool this winter. Instead, the focus is on targeted decisions that protect performance levels while respecting the realities faced by players such as Chiesa and Gomez. Both situations are different, but they reflect a broader theme at the club: clarity over roles, honesty in communication and flexibility where circumstances demand it.

As January approaches, Liverpool’s priority remains competitive stability. Whether that allows Chiesa to reset his Liverpool career or enables Gomez to pursue a new chapter elsewhere will depend on developments still to unfold. What is clear is that the coming weeks will shape not just the remainder of the season, but the longer-term squad framework under Slot’s stewardship.