According to information we have obtained, Liverpool have two interconnected developments emerging in this summer's transfer window: Italian winger Chiesa's desire to stay has seen a notable reversal, while at the same time the club is also reassessing its long-term setup in goal, with Brentford goalkeeper Kelleher being added to a potential buyback list.
Major squad changes are expected at Anfield this summer. Following the departures of core players such as Salah and Robertson, financial balancing and squad rebuilding are running in parallel. Since new head coach Iraola took charge, the management team must strengthen the wings, midfield and defence within a limited budget while also dealing with the futures of several fringe players. Chiesa is among the names attracting the most attention—since joining two seasons ago, his playing time in the Premier League has remained limited, and rumours of a departure have therefore continued to circulate.
Chiesa: From Departure Intent to Determination to Stay
Earlier this month, Chiesa went public with his stance that if he could not secure regular playing time under Iraola, he would push for a transfer this summer. His words were quite direct: "I want to play as a starter. If I can't find continuity in the Premier League, I have to look elsewhere." He also revealed that he would join the squad for the pre-season tour of the United States before sitting down with the club and the new manager to decide his future.
However, the situation has taken a turn recently. Multiple sources indicate that although Serie A clubs such as Juventus and Como remain linked with his name, Chiesa himself is increasingly inclined to stay at Liverpool, with the aim of competing for a regular starting role under Slot. Sources say the player's stance is quite clear — unless the club actively puts him on the market, he is willing to prove himself through his pre-season performances. This stands in stark contrast to his public comments from weeks ago, and also reflects the subtle shift in dressing-room expectations since the new manager's arrival.
From a sporting perspective, Chiesa's logic for staying is not without merit. Slot is known for emphasizing work rate, pressing and efficiency in wide areas, which aligns with Chiesa's technical strengths in sprinting and one-on-one dribbling. The problem is that competition for places in Liverpool's front line is already fierce. Chiesa has had limited playing time over the past two seasons combined, and whether he can build his fitness and match sharpness back up within the short pre-season window will directly determine whether he can upgrade from a "rotation option" to a "regular starter." For Slot, this is both a test of his personnel decisions and a window to assess how well his tactical system can reshape existing players.
Goalkeeping shake-up: Alisson's future and possible Kelleher buyback
The goalkeeper position is another narrative running in parallel. Links between Alisson Becker and Juventus have persisted for months, while Mamardashvili's earlier arrival at Liverpool was viewed as a long-term succession plan. The latest information suggests the likelihood of Alisson leaving when his contract expires in 2027 is increasing, and the club needs to plan ahead for a post-Brazil No. 1 era in terms of personnel structure.
Whether Mamardashvili can quickly live up to his potential under Iraola remains an open question. The new head coach needs a goalkeeper who can provide reliable distribution from deep behind a high defensive line while standing up to the intensity of shots in the Premier League, and the Georgian international still has a limited sample of actual match action at Liverpool. If internal solutions cannot meet competitive requirements in the short term, re-signing Kelleher enters the discussion.
Kelleher joined Brentford in the summer of 2024 for a fee estimated at around £24 million, and he has earned stable first-team opportunities with the Bees this season. Platform data shows Brentford’s recent league form has been uneven: they drew 2-2 at home in Matchday 37, and ended the season with a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool — it was precisely that result that brought the former Liverpool man’s performance back into the spotlight. Kelleher knows Liverpool’s system, understands the rhythm of the Premier League, and remains in his prime; from the perspective of technical fit and the cost of integrating back into the dressing room, a buyback route carries a certain logic. However, whether a deal can be completed depends on two factors: first, whether Brentford are willing to let him go and their asking price; second, Liverpool’s internal assessment of Mamardashvili’s development curve.
Summer transfer window: How the two threads intertwine
Looking at the Chiesa and Kelleher storylines together, the core logic of Liverpool’s summer business is completing squad rejuvenation and positional optimization at controllable cost. If Chiesa stays and successfully competes for a starting spot up front, the club’s urgency over winger recruitment may be adjusted downward accordingly, with funds and squad slots potentially redirected toward midfield or the back line; on the goalkeeper front, if Alisson’s departure timeline is brought forward, a Kelleher buyback and Mamardashvili’s development would complement each other rather than serve as a simple replacement — the former offering immediate impact, the latter carrying the long-term plan.
From a league-trend perspective, Liverpool lost 2-4 away in the closing stretch and drew at home against Brentford, with defensive stability and transition efficiency still looming as concerns. Since Slot took charge, whether the front line can add effective possession outlets and whether the back line can cut down unforced errors will directly shape the priority order for summer transfer business. Chiesa's reversal on his willingness to stay has, to some extent, reduced the operational complexity of a "sell first, buy later" approach up front; Kelleher's buyback clause looks more like a fallback option—one that would only truly be played if internal goalkeeper assessments fall short of expectations.
The next milestones worth watching include Chiesa's minutes allocation during the US pre-season tour, Slot's tendency to start Mamardashvili, and the progress of negotiations between Alisson and Juventus. If Chiesa keeps shining in pre-season, the narrative around him staying could solidify; if Kelleher continues to deliver steadily at Brentford, buyback talks could escalate from a "backup plan" to substantive negotiations. For Liverpool fans, the crux of this summer window lies not in a single blockbuster signing, but in whether the new manager can restore competitive value to the existing assets—including Chiesa, once viewed as a likely departure, and Kelleher, who left for the Bees but remains on the club's mind.
