Ben Doak could pounce if 'torn' Federico Chiesa makes an early Liverpool exit in the summer.

The Italian winger only joined the new Premier League champions on a four-year-deal from Juventus last summer.

He may have cost just £12.5 million but Arne Slot clearly expected much more from the 27-year-old who has been resigned to the sidelines for much of the season.

The Euro 2020 winner was handed just his fifth league appearance of the campaign when he came on against Chelsea, granting him a winners' medal.

And according to Calciomercato, Chiesa is aware that he is entering his prime years and is desperate for first team football once again.

The reporter said: "Federico Chiesa has paid the price of competition from many champions in the best moment of his career in addition to a relationship that never fully blossomed with Arne Slot.

"This is why there is an air of separation at the end of the season, in the next few days Fali Ramadani will be in Liverpool to take stock of the situation."

It adds: "Chiesa is torn."

Napoli and AC Milan are said to be interested in taking him back to the continent.

And is music to the ears of Doak who has long been waiting in the wings to breakthrough on Merseyside.

The 19-year-old seriously impressed at English Championship club Middlesbrough before succumbing to a thigh injury in January.

Doak plays of the right wing and could be the perfect understudy for Mohamed Salah. Darwin Nunez is also expected to leave Anfield with Saudi Pro League clubs keen on his signature, opening up another space for the former Celtic youth player.

Both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town wanted to make him part of their plans instead as they launched £16million bids for the rapid teenager in January.

However the a new report from The Athletic, Liverpool are thought to be keen on keeping hold of the teenager, but also aware they’ll likely receive offers for the player’s services in the summer.

Slot remained reluctant to sanction a move for the player in the hope he can potentially make an impact on the Reds’ first team next season.

They add that the club would only consider bids of more than £30million in order to sanction the sale of the youngster.

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