Federico Chiesa’s preference when it comes to the Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes debate may have just won him plenty of fans at Liverpool.
The Juventus winger is set to join Liverpool having departed Italy on Wednesday morning to travel to Merseyside for a medical. Chiesa will join Liverpool for a fee of around $14.5m (£11.0m/€13.0m), with the Reds bolstering their attack, and finding cover for Mohamed Salah in signing the Italian.
“I am happy, I am very happy. I want to say goodbye to the Bianconeri fans,” Chiesa told reporters at the airport departing Italy, according to Football Italia. “Thanks for the affection over these years. I’ll carry you in my heart. Thanks to Juventus.”
In signing Chiesa, the Italian will become the Reds second summer signing after they announced the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili on Tuesday. The Georgian goalkeeper is set to remain with Valencia this season on-loan before joining Liverpool next summer.
At a fee of around $14.5m, given his talent, Liverpool supporters must be wondering just how they have managed to land a player of Chiesa’s ability for such a low price. The winger has missed 91 games in four years for Juventus which is slightly alarming, but he could prove to be an excellent gamble if he can stay fit.
And Chiesa has already endeared himself to Liverpool fans ahead of his move. The Italian was asked who he preferred when it came to the debate around who is the best midfielder; Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard or Paul Scholes.
“Lampard, Gerrard or Scholes,” Chiesa was asked. He replied: “Who would I rather have in my midfield? Stevie G” – which will be music to the ears of Liverpool supporters who have debated the topic for years.
“While it’s a debate of preference between the legendary trio, it can’t hurt Chiesa’s relationship with Reds supporters that he did end up choosing Gerrard.”
