Federico Chiesa could leave Liverpool on loan this month and is a transfer target for five Serie A clubs, according to reports in Italy.

The winger’s Liverpool career has not taken off since his summer move and he has played just four times for the club. That has mainly been due to injury, but Arne Slot has also seemed reluctant to reintegrate him into the side since his return in mid-December.

Chiesa has been left out of the last two matchday squads and has made just one start all season.

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“With Federico, I’ve said it many times already, we are working on two things,” Slot explained after the win against West Ham United. “We are working on his match fitness and whenever we can we try to bring him with the team.

“He was on the bench during the week and we thought it was better for him to have some extra training sessions instead of joining us. It’s the constant balance we have to find between getting him fitter and letting him join the team.”

His omission from the team has resulted in several recent reports in Italy stating he could leave in January. The latest came from Calciomercato, who claim: “Chiesa's career finds itself at a standstill, with the winter transfer window that could be a lifeline for the Italian winger.”

The outlet adds that he wants to leave Liverpool but his €7.5m (£6.2m/$7.8m) salary could prove to be a stumbling block with a loan move the most likely option in January.

Inter, Milan and Roma are interested in Chiesa, while Calciomercato adds that Napoli and Atalanta ‘cannot be ruled out either’. The latter could even be open to a loan-to-buy deal, while Napoli boss Antonio Conte ‘has given his approval’ for the winger’s arrival.

The possibility of a loan move will all depend on Liverpool’s willingness to cover part of Chiesa’s wages, with the player’s agent set to meet with the club in the coming days.

The 27-year-old only arrived from Juventus last summer for a fee of $16.4m (£12.5m/€14.8m), and it would be a surprise if the Euro 2020 winner were to depart so quickly.