Federico Chiesa 'decides stance on staying at Liverpool' as Luis Diaz exit clears space

Liverpool outcast Federico Chiesa has reportedly firmed up his stance on whether to leave Anfield this summer. The winger found first-team action hard to come by last season but his chances of being given more responsibility by Arne Slot could be about to go up, with Luis Diaz on his way to Bayern Munich.

Diaz played more Premier League minutes than any Liverpool attacker apart from Mohamed Salah last season. The Colombian's absence would therefore leave a big hole to fill, and although the Reds wanted to keep hold of him earlier this summer, they have now sanctioned his exit by agreeing a £65.5million fee with Bayern.

Diaz's move might have offered Chiesa hope that he could find a way into Slot's starting XI for the campaign ahead. But according to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian international has decided that he still wants to leave Merseyside.

Serie A remains his preferred destination after managing just four starts during his first and so far only season away from the Italian top flight. Atalanta are reportedly showing interest in Chiesa as they prepare for the departure of fellow winger Ademola Lookman.

Despite the peripheral role he played last term, Chiesa's faultless professionalism and attitude made him a fan favourite at Anfield. Even if he joins Diaz in heading for the exit door, Slot still has plenty of options with which to fill the two spots out wide.

Salah is a shoo-in to continue his stellar work on the right, while new signing Hugo Ekitike could be shifted out to the left if Liverpool sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle to play up front.

Cody Gakpo is also a contender, and although Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott have both been linked with summer exits, they too could be kept on as candidates to play on the flanks. It promises to be a big 2025/26 season for Liverpool after an incredible spending spree in the summer transfer market.

They have already broken the British transfer record with the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz, and any move for the £150m-rated Isak would shatter it for a second time. The Reds have also concluded big-money deals for full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

But in a window which has seen most things go Liverpool's way, the departure of Diaz would be a blow to Slot's hopes of retaining the league title. The reigning champions were also powerless to prevent Trent Alexander-Arnold jumping ship, with the academy graduate joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.