Liverpool and Napoli are reportedly in advanced talks over a loan deal for Federico Chiesa, but the two clubs must solve one key issue in negotiations.
The former Juventus man was viewed as one of the bargains of the summer transfer window when he joined the Reds for just £10.3m, but his first year in English football has been one to forget.
Chiesa will end the season with a Premier League winners' medal, but he has not started a single top-flight match and has made just 13 appearances in total, producing two goals and two assists.
Head coach Arne Slot has been happy to rotate in the final few weeks with the Premier League title wrapped up, but the Italy international was not even named in the squad for last weekend's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Chiesa's Liverpool contract runs for another three years, but the winger's lack of action has inevitably led to talk of a move back home amid reports of interest from Napoli and AC Milan.
Liverpool, Napoli 'at odds' over Chiesa transfer
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According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli are now pressing ahead with a move for Chiesa and are in active discussions with Liverpool over a loan return this summer.
Partenopei president Aurelio de Laurentiis is said to be 'pushing on the accelerator' to get a deal done, but Napoli and Liverpool are currently at a disagreement when it comes to the terms of a deal.
The Italian giants reportedly want to sign Chiesa on loan with an option to buy, but Liverpool are insisting that Antonio Conte's side agree to an obligation to make his stay permanent in 2026.
However, there is still optimism that negotiations will lead to a positive conclusion, and talks are now at a 'very advanced stage' between Napoli and the Premier League champions.
Chiesa earns a reported €4.5m (£3.8m) per year under the terms of his Liverpool contract, but Napoli would supposedly have no problem covering 100% of his wages next season.
Arne Slot confirms stance on Chiesa Liverpool future
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There could be another twist to the tale, though, as speaking in Friday's pre-Brighton & Hove Albion press conference, Slot insisted that Chiesa can still come good at Liverpool.
"Does he have a future here? Yes, definitely he has," Slot told journalists. "Next season, if he comes back completely fit, which he has hardly been for the first half-season, I can give him playing time in pre-season, so he can build himself up and then go even further.
"The moment he came in, he was, by a long time, not as fit as the other players were, and that doesn't help in the beginning. The other ones did so well, there was not a lot of reason for me to change, and then being in the squad becomes difficult if Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are there as well.
"He is good enough to play for us, or a club of our standards. In terms of the quality he has, he would deserve more playing time at this football club, or the club he is playing for, as he has the quality to play for us."
Chiesa has totalled just 41 minutes across five Premier League appearances this term, and he has not started for the Reds since February's FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
Ben Knapton
