West Ham and Bournemouth Circle Liverpool's Underused Chiesa as January Loan Targets

West Ham and Bournemouth have both come knocking on Liverpool's door regarding the availability of Federico Chiesa, according to insider sources. Both clubs are eyeing a temporary move for the Italian winger as they battle to escape the bottom reaches of the Premier League.

Chiesa's time at Anfield has been a story of frustration and underuse. The 26-year-old has managed just one Premier League start all season and has failed to feature at all in the Champions League. His goal tally stands at two with one assist in the league, yet even with Mohamed Salah away competing at the African Cup of Nations, Chiesa remains starved of opportunities.

The situation has become particularly acute in recent weeks. Arne Slot's side have deployed Jeremie Frimpong—a defender by trade—on the right flank rather than turn to Chiesa, who has accumulated a mere 16 minutes across Liverpool's last three fixtures and didn't make the bench for their most recent outing. It paints a bleak picture of his standing within the squad.

Liverpool's campaign has been a rollercoaster. They stormed through their opening seven games unbeaten, only to suffer four consecutive defeats before another stumble of three straight losses tested patience at Anfield. Since November, however, Slot's men have rediscovered their footing, remaining unbeaten and climbing back to fourth in the Premier League table.

For Chiesa, none of that recovery has translated into meaningful pitch time. A loan exit appears increasingly likely, and both interested parties could benefit from his experience. West Ham sit in the relegation zone, requiring seven points to climb clear of immediate danger, while Bournemouth occupy 15th place, twelve points clear of the drop zone—though their predicament has been complicated by the departure of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.

Semenyo's exit represents a significant blow to Bournemouth's attacking prowess. The Ghanaian winger has been directly involved in 13 of the Cherries' 34 Premier League goals this season—a staggering 38 per cent of their output. Replacing that impact will be crucial if they're to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap, and Chiesa's arrival could prove instrumental in that regard.