Arne Slot could complete ultimate Liverpool transfer that Jurgen Klopp never could

Liverpool's new coach Arne Slot could immediately go one 'better' than Jurgen Klopp by landing a transfer that always eluded the German. On the radar since at least 2019, it would be a statement of intent — although the wisdom of the move is up for discussion.

Of course, revisiting transfer targets from this sort of era makes a degree of sense. Michael Edwards has returned to the club in a new capacity with FSG, having previously been sporting director at Liverpool.

However, he has long since been known to favor younger players when it comes to recruitment. Plenty of the players he targeted in his initial stint have now aged beyond the point where they would make sense at Anfield.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Riccardo Calafiori contact, Luis Diaz 'meeting', Leny Yoro latest

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as first signing 'close' amid Riccardo Calafiori contact

But the potential impending availability of Federico Chiesa could test the flexibility of the new recruitment structure. After all, while Edwards might not like the fact the Italian turns 27 in October, he will love the fact that he is into the final year of his Juventus contract.

Potentially available at a knockdown fee this summer, or else available for negotiations over a free transfer in as little as six months' time, Chiesa could belatedly arrive at Liverpool. But he would not be joining in the capacity for which the Reds initially targeted him.

Links to Chiesa first emerged in 2019 (The Express). Liverpool was again credited with an interest after his explosive delayed Euro 2020 campaign, but by this point he was already on loan to Juventus from Fiorentina, with an obligation to buy preventing Klopp from pulling off any kind of hijack.

At the time, Chiesa impressed for Italy as an explosive left winger, He looked to have all of the attributes to eventually replace Sadio Mane in Klopp's side.

One cruciate ligament tear later, and Chiesa is not the same player. Even on a free transfer, it would not be the ultimate deal for Slot if he expected to get hold of a classic beat-your-man winger.

But he has restored himself as a regular for Juventus, and is currently away in Germany once again representing his country. That's testament to the comeback he has made.

It's involved something of a reinvention. Italy started him on the wing in the Euro 2024 opener, but he has spent much of the season for Juventus as a kind of shadow striker. In the Slot system, he could occupy the number 10 role.

No longer quite so explosive, the creative side of Chiesa's game has come to the fore. He may have only recorded three Serie A assists last season (scoring nine goals), but his expected assist tally placed him in the 94th percentile of forwards in Europe's top five leagues (FBref).

And it would be wrong to say that Chiesa has lost all of what made Klopp's Liverpool apparently covet him in the first place. He would still bring a desire to drive forward with the ball into Slot's attack, as well as an eye for a take-on.

It's a newer, more mature version of Chiesa. And if the terms of a deal are right, that could be ideal for Slot.

Liverpool.com says: While no longer the marquee transfer it would have been under Klopp, especially following Euro 2020, signing Chiesa could still prove to be an astute deal. If there's a bargain to be had, Edwards and Slot should be open to it.

Chiesa would be a flexible option across the front line, with potential to drop deeper as well. He would bring a wealth of experience to Slot's side, but has more left in the tank than veterans like Mohamed Salah. It will be interesting keeping an eye on how he does as the Euros unfolds.