Salah unlocks €20 million Liverpool transfer

Robin Bairner

17 Jan 2026 09:17 GMT
4 min read

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Mohamed Salah’s return from AFCON duty could unlock a crucial January transfer for Liverpool, with Federico Chiesa’s departure now expected to swing on the future of the 33-year-old winger.

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Liverpool have been reticent to see Chiesa depart this month. Although he has rarely been a starter this season under manager Arne Slot, he has frequently appeared off the bench.

But the player’s desire to move back to Italy has been made clear to the Anfield side, and though they have slapped a higher-than-expected price tag on the Italy international star, the Reds could not be willing to see him depart thanks to the returning Salah.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

ETV Range

€41.5M - €50.8M

Return of the king: Salah is back

Salah could be in the fold for the midweek Champions League meeting with Marseille following the conclusion of Egypt’s AFCON adventure in Morocco. That ends on Saturday when they meet Nigeria in the third-place playoff.

While there had been rumours that he could leave in January after his public spat with Slot, the pair appear to have patched things up.

The Dutchman spoke glowingly of Salah in his press conference on Friday and is looking forward to having the iconic attacker available.

“I am happy that he comes back. Mo has been so important for this club, for me, so I am happy that he is back,” Slot said.

“Even if I had 15 attackers I still would have been happy if he came back but that is not our current situation.”

What does this mean for Chiesa?

Salah’s return gives Slot more versatility in his options in attack, and it could also mean Liverpool reluctantly accepting Federico Chiesa’s decision to move.

The Reds’ desire to see the Italian remain at the club – partly driven by a long-term injury to Alexander Isak – has seen them increase their asking price for the player.

Current ETV

Federico Chiesa

F (CR)

Liverpool

Federico Chiesa

F (CR)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€18.2M - €22.2M

Initially, Liverpool and Juventus had discussed a €12 million fee, but this has risen to as much as €20m, according to transfer expert Romeo Agresti at Calciomercato.

This, however, is in line with Chiesa’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €20m and would represent a healthy profit for Liverpool, who signed him for €12m just 18 months ago.

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