Liverpool are weighing up a surprise deal for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa having made a move for the Italian international.

It remains to be seen if the initial contact between Liverpool and the Italian giants will lead to further talks and a formal bid before the transfer deadline in the next few days, but the scouting department on Merseyside are understood to be admirers of the 27-year-old.

Chiesa has been linked with Chelsea and Barcelona during recent weeks, and Liverpool’s interest is something of a shock given they are well-resourced in attack.

It was not thought that the club were seeking reinforcements in that area, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota starting the season in fine form, and Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo beginning the campaign as highly experienced understudies.

The club’s priority so far has been to add to their number in midfield, their pursuit of a number six well documented.

Liverpool have also been scouting centre-backs, while on Monday they agreed a £30 million deal for Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Pending a medical, the Valencia stopper will become the first signing of the Arne Slot era before returning to the La Liga club on loan for the rest of the season.

The Chiesa move is intriguing, however.

The Italian international was rated in the £100 million range three years ago, but since then he has suffered a torrid time with injuries, trying to work his way back to full fitness.

Another winger would give Slot six options in his front three, but a deal would also pose more questions about where others’ fall in the pecking order.

Sporting director Richard Hughes said at the start of his first transfer window since moving to Anfield that the club would be “opportunistic” in the market this summer, and it could be that a player of Chiesa’s pedigree is too good to ignore if the price is right.