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Image Credits: Imago ImagesLiverpool may be forced into the January transfer market after Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious debut knee injury.
Liverpool fans know the feeling when excitement quickly turns into worry.
A new signing makes a bright start, and supporters begin to imagine what the season could look like.
Then something happens on the pitch that changes the mood.
For a club chasing trophies on many fronts, every player matters.
Depth in defence is especially important with the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and domestic cups all demanding fresh legs and strong performances.
Giovanni Leoni’s first night in a Liverpool shirt showed why the club worked hard to sign him from Parma for £26m.
The 18-year-old centre-back looked calm and strong as the Reds beat Southampton 2-1 in the EFL Cup?
But that debut ended in pain.
In the second half Leoni fell awkwardly and left the pitch on a stretcher.
Manager Arne Slot gave a careful but honest update after the game.
“Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess,” he said.
He explained that injuries like this need time to check properly.
“Normally these things don’t happen in five to ten minutes and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.”
According to a post from Fabrizio Romano, the defender has reportedly suffered an ACL injury, which could sideline him for months.
Now, as per TalkSPORT, a new setback may force Liverpool to think about their next move when the January transfer window opens.
Liverpool had planned to rely on four main centre-backs: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Leoni.
They could not finalise the signing of Marc Guehi late in the summer, but may now revisit that search if Leoni faces months out.
Under new UEFA rules, they could also replace him in their Champions League squad, with Federico Chiesa waiting for a chance.
For now the club waits, but a long lay-off could pull Liverpool into the January market sooner than expected.
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