The game-changing Liverpool and Inter Milan swap deal to secure top transfer target and save Arne Slot's job

Liverpool have work to do in January after the Premier League champions fell into the bottom half of the table with a sixth defeat in seven matches on Saturday.

Arne Slot must in the meantime find a resolution to how to get the best out of his current squad, but the mid-season window comes as the perfect opportunity to solve any glaring squad issues that cannot be remedied in-house.

With retaining their league title already looking like a faint dream, the Reds must ensure that they do not jeopardise their chances of qualifying for the Champions League if their horrific form continues. With such an expensively-assembled squad, now more than ever Slot’s men must ensure they get their act together quickly.

With one Reds squad player linked with a move abroad, Liverpool could take the opportunity to seal a huge swap deal which could see the club sign a major target this January.

Inter Milan amongst Serie A clubs interested in Federico Chiesa

According to reports by Fichajes, Federico Chiesa has attracted interest from four leading Serie A clubs and is considering the possibility of a return to his homeland in January if his on-field opportunities do not improve for Liverpool in the coming weeks.

Despite calls for the Italian to gain more of a regular role in the side, Chiesa remains used as primarily an impact substitute for Liverpool and might look for a mid-season exit as a result.

The 28-year-old has yet to return to the Italy national team and could reportedly view Serie A as the best place for him to regain his spot for the Azzurri under Gennaro Gattuso, particularly if the Reds push forward with transfer links to Antoine Semenyo to push Chiesa further down the pecking order.

The four Serie A clubs cited to be interested in Chiesa are Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli and Roma. Inter are said to have been searching for a player who will ‘create balance on the wing and offer a constant threat in one-on-one situations’, viewing Chiesa as an ideal profile for the role.

If an exit for the former Juventus man is to become an inevitability, Liverpool would be smart to use him as a trump card in a mammoth transfer move for a major target of their own.

Chiesa and Alessandro Bastoni swap deal could seal massive Liverpool signing

While the Reds would be reluctant to part ways with fan favourite Chiesa, if sanctioning his departure could help secure a move for Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, then it could prove worth it.

Bastoni is one of Europe’s most accomplished defenders and Liverpool are in desperate need of someone with his profile right now, amidst the continued struggles of Ibrahima Konate which saw the Frenchman replaced after less than an hour against Nottingham Forest. Bastoni offers composure in defence and in possession, and could bring a new lease of life to the Reds back four.

Inter are not in a position of needing to sell mid-season, but the inclusion of Chiesa in a deal could persuade them to get it over the line, so to avoid missing out on a top target to one of their major Serie A rivals.

Figures of at least £80million have been suggested for Bastoni, while Chiesa’s market value is currently €18m according to Transfermarkt, meaning the Reds would still need to pay a hefty fee - but offering Chiesa could prove a game-changing, necessary measure in order to secure the signing of one of the most highly-rated defenders in Europe.

Bastoni has been linked to Anfield in recent weeks, and so both clubs would be gaining one of their main transfer targets through a swap deal. One of Liverpool’s biggest issues this season has been how soft they have been at the back.

The arrival of a commanding presence such as that of Bastoni would not only make the Reds tougher to break down - it could go a long way to save Arne Slot’s job at Anfield.