Chiesa Signals U-Turn on Liverpool Exit; Kelleher Return Mooted as Alisson Insurance

The summer window at Anfield promises significant upheaval as Andoni Iraola takes the reins, but one player previously destined for the exit door appears to have had a change of heart.

Federico Chiesa, who has endured a frustrating stint on the fringes at Liverpool, initially signalled his intention to seek pastures new. The Italian winger made clear earlier this month that he would push for a move unless the incoming manager offered genuine assurances about regular football, having barely featured during his opening campaign with the club.

"I want to play regularly, if I don't find continuity in Premier League I have to look elsewhere," Chiesa stated, adding that discussions with Iraola would prove decisive following the pre-season tour of the USA.

Yet Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale now reports a striking reversal. Chiesa is apparently determined to remain on Merseyside and prove himself to his new boss, having set his sights on earning a legitimate starting berth. Links to Como and Juventus have failed to shift his resolve, though Di Natale notes that only a formal decision by the club to offload him would alter the equation.

The goalkeeper conundrum presents a different puzzle entirely. With Alisson Becker's contract running through 2027 but reportedly the most likely candidate to depart when that deal expires, Liverpool must think ahead. Giorgi Mamardashvili has arrived as a potential successor, though he will need to prove his credentials under Iraola's watch.

The Athletic's Gregg Evans suggests the club is quietly monitoring Caoimhin Kelleher's progress at Brentford as insurance. Valued at £24m, Kelleher has already demonstrated he possesses the quality to deputise effectively at Liverpool. Despite the absence of a buyback clause in his departure deal, a future return cannot be ruled out—particularly should the goalkeeper continue his impressive form in west London and internal alternatives fail to materialise.

Evans reflected that replacing Alisson represents a genuine challenge, though Kelleher stands among the select few who have shown themselves capable of stepping into such demanding boots. Liverpool's preference, naturally, would be to develop a successor from within, with all attention now focused on how Alisson's understudies develop over the coming season.

The summer window will see FSG orchestrate a comprehensive rebuild, with reports suggesting targets across the attacking and defensive lines, while further departures beyond Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are anticipated to balance the books.