Federico Chiesa could be set to stay as part of the Liverpool squad this season, according to reports in Italy, following the sale of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.Chiesa was not a prominent fixture throughout pre-season but did still score once in his three appearances – interrupted by an injury that saw him miss the tour of Asia.The expectation was that the winger’s absence from the trips to Hong Kong and Japan would pave the way for a swift exit.But as it stands Chiesa is one of six forwards in Arne Slot‘s senior squad ahead of the Premier League opener against Bournemouth and, according to new reports in Italy, could be set to stay.Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Liverpool officials held a meeting with his agent Fali Ramadani and communicated that he would be needed for the start of the new season.Arne Slot is said to have had a similar conversation with Chiesa himself, with it clear that the departures of Nunez to Al-Hilal and Diaz to Bayern Munich have left him short of senior attackers.While there are plans to involve Rio Ngumoha as a full-time member of the first team there will be an awareness that relying too heavily on a 16-year-old would be a gamble.Similarly with Ben Doak expected to leave amid widespread interest from clubs in the Premier League and beyond, there is no specialist cover for Mohamed Salah on the right.Slot most recently mentioned Chiesa as an option for the centre-forward role following the loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. It could be that the 27-year-old is simply being retained until Liverpool gain clarity in their pursuit of Alexander Isak, with there yet to be a breakthrough over a player who is looking to force his way out of Newcastle.But with Nunez and Diaz both moving on and Slot also losing Diogo Jota in tragic circumstances, it is not unfeasible that Chiesa could be kept as cover.Speaking in June, the Italy international admitted that he “wouldn’t mind staying” at Anfield, though national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso has since made it clear he must play regularly in order to earn a call-up ahead of the World Cup.A number of clubs in Serie A have been credited with an interest in Chiesa, including Napoli and Atalanta.