Federico Chiesa in line to turn into Liverpool’s fifth-highest earner after switch name
Federico Chiesa is one of Liverpool’s top earners but has only played 25 minutes of Premier League football since his move to the Reds last summer
Federico Chiesa will become one of Liverpool’s five highest-earning stars if Trent Alexander-Arnold joins Real Madrid. Despite only clocking up 387 minutes on the pitch since his move to Anfield this season, Chiesa, 27, is still one of the club’s biggest earners.
The Italian Euro 2020 champion was Arne Slot’s first signing as Reds boss when he joined last summer. However, he’s only managed a mere 25 minutes of Premier League action since then.
But his weekly and annual pay packet is more fitting of a player who is one of the first names on the team sheet. If Alexander-Arnold makes his move to the Spanish capital and Chiesa chooses to fight for his place on the red side of Merseyside, the latter will be one of the wealthiest players at the club.
Chiesa may have seen little game time, but his reported £150,000 weekly wage makes him the sixth-highest earner at Anfield, according to Spotrac. Only Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Andrew Robertson pocket more than him at the club.
But with rumours swirling that Alexander-Arnold could be Madrid-bound when his contract runs out at season’s end, Chiesa will climb into the top five earners. And if Salah and Van Dijk also head for the exit when their contracts wind down in the summer, the Italian could rise even further up the pay ranks.
Just like Alexander-Arnold, both Van Dijk and Salah could leave as a free agent if they do not sign a contract extension. Salah’s made no secret about his dicey future, telling the media last November that he’s “probably more out than in” at Anfield.
While nothing is confirmed by either club, reports from Sky Sports News claims that Alexander-Arnold has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid, who are now in talks with his representatives. The Spanish giants will be obliged to inform Liverpool if or when they agree a deal with the England international.
Alexander-Arnold has been at Liverpool since he was in the youth ranks. He made his first appearance for the club in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup all the way back in 2016.
He has been the starting defender since the 2017-18 campaign, playing a massive role in Liverpool’s triumphs in the Champions League, the Premier League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup, the latter of which on two victorious occasions.
Alexander-Arnold is currently nursing an injury sustained in the Reds’ penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. He also had to watch from the sidelines as the Reds were beaten 2-1 at Wembley Stadium by Newcastle United in the League Cup final.
The same injury also ruled him out of the international break, where Thomas Tuchel took charge of his first matches as England manager. This season, Alexander-Arnold has helped himself to three goals and seven assists over 39 showings.
Though his potential exit will leave a void at the club, Liverpool supporters are excited about young prospect Conor Bradley, who has been impressive when needed to deputise.
The Northern Irishman notably shone in the 2-0 triumph against Real Madrid at home in the Champions League, where he kept Kylian Mbappe quiet.
