Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni is being strongly linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided a key update on the transfer.
The 18-year-old is seen as a genuine defensive option for the Reds, along with Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi, with the Premier League champions reportedly looking to sign both players.
Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Give Me Sport], Romano claimed that Liverpool will plan to keep Leoni as soon as they sign him, rather than loan him out for the 2025/26 season:
“Tonight we had some reports saying that Leoni, maybe the deal is going to be done now for 2026. Guys, I will be honest with you. My information is that this is not true. As of today, Liverpool are negotiating to sign Leoni now, to have Leoni available now for Arne Slot, not for 2026.
“I know many media on X and in other places are saying that maybe Leoni is for next year, like Mamardashvili, but this is completely invented. Liverpool have never discussed that, from what I understand, then if this is going to be part of the conversation in the final stages, I will let you know.”
Should Liverpool loan out Leoni this season?
This feels like the correct decision by Liverpool, assuming Leoni does move to Anfield this summer, with Arne Slot in need of two new defenders in his squad ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen has affected the depth in his squad, and considering both Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez have had injury problems down the years, new faces are a must for the Reds.
Leoni looks like a player with unbelievable potential, already making 17 appearances for Parma, as well as representing Italy at both Under-19 and Under-18 level, winning a total of nine caps combined.
The teenager will likely be content with taking up a squad role at Liverpool to begin with, given his age, but an eventual long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk will be needed, and the Italian could grow into a player who is capable of filling that void.
