Liverpool are reportedly interested in completing the signing of a young central defender who could have a massive future in the game.
The Reds are in need of a new centre-back this summer, following Jarell Quansah’s recent move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez have also suffered from injury problems down the years, and doubts have even emerged regarding the former’s future at Liverpool.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has been mentioned as an option for the Premier League champions, but it looks as though a younger alternative may now be on the cards.
That’s according to The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, who reports that Liverpool have “genuine interest” in highly-rated Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni along with Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Bournemouth, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, also adding:
“One scout has told me that Leoni is probably the best young defender he saw last season – composed, elegant and defensively astute. He actually compared him to Dean Huijsen,” Bailey said.
“Parma insist they do not want to sell, but the chance of trebling their money on him in just 12 months might be too much to say no to. I am told that Parma were happy for Leoni to be under the radar, but with clubs flocking to see (Zion) Suzuki, it was only natural that Leoni would attract interest too, and that is exactly what has happened.
“I believe Parma would be doing very well to keep Leoni beyond this summer.”
A fantastic long-term defensive option for Liverpool
Leoni looks like a superb prospect, having moved to Parma for £10m last summer, making 17 appearances in Serie A in 2024/25 and averaging 3.6 clearances per game.
The colossal 6ft5in Italian teenager has been described as “complete”, “elegant” and “dominant” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he could be viewed as a future leader of Liverpool’s defence.
Leoni has been capped by Italy at both Under-19 and Under-18 level, appearing eight times overall for his country, and his versatility also allows him to shine as a right-back.
He ticks so many boxes for Liverpool, not least his long-term potential, and if they beat many other big clubs to his signature, it could be a major coup.
