Liverpool’s Champions League Miss Leaves Chiesa and Gakpo Facing Uncertain Futures

When the final whistle blew on the last league match, the headline on the front pages wasn’t "Liverpool triumph" – it was simply "Liverpool miss out on the Champions League." The Reds finished just outside the top‑four, and that omission does more than dent the club’s coffers; it throws a shadow over the careers of two of their most‑hyped players.

First, there’s Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger arrived in the summer with a five‑year contract, a €70 million price tag and a promise to add pace and creativity on the flanks. In the first half of the season he looked the part – dazzling a few fans with a blistering run against Brighton, delivering a couple of neat crosses that almost turned into goals. Yet, with the Champions League now off the table, the Italian media are already speculating about a possible return to Serie A, perhaps even a loan back to Juventus. Chiesa himself hinted in a post‑match interview that he “needs to be playing at the highest level,” a line that now feels like a polite hint rather than a simple desire.

Then there’s Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward, who cost Liverpool around £30 million, was brought in to shoulder the goal‑scoring burden left by Mohamed Salah’s departure. Gakpo has already hit double‑figures in the league, but without the lure of Europe his market value could stagnate, and the player’s agent has reportedly started subtle conversations with clubs in the Bundesliga and Serie A. The rumor mill is humming, and Anfield’s faithful are left wondering whether Gakpo will stay to fight for a place in the Europa League, or if a fresh start elsewhere is inevitable.

Manager Jürgen Klopp, ever the pragmatic type, tried to reassure the dressing room after the season’s end. "We’ve built a squad that can compete on any stage," he said, "but the players need to feel they’re progressing." In practice, though, that “progress” often means Champions League football, and without it the club’s biggest assets may start looking elsewhere.

Financially, the impact is also palpable. Missing out on the lucrative European competition means a shortfall of roughly €150 million in broadcast revenue. That cash, which would have helped cover the hefty wages of stars like Chiesa and Gakpo, now has to be sourced elsewhere – whether through player sales, increased ticket prices, or a re‑evaluation of the club’s transfer strategy.

For now, both players remain on Liverpool’s payroll, training hard at Melwood and showing up for every match. Yet, the writing is on the wall: without the Champions League, the club’s ability to retain its marquee signings is seriously compromised. As the summer window closes and the transfer rumour mill whirs louder than ever, the next chapter for Chiesa and Gakpo may be written far from Anfield.