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Giovanni Leoni has completed his Liverpool medical ahead of his move being made official, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool have agreed an initial £26m deal with Parma to sign teenage centre-back Leoni.

The 18-year-old travelled to Merseyside on Friday for a medical and is set to join the first-team squad, with no loan planned.

The Reds are keen on strengthening their defence after selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have held talks with Crystal Palace over a potential move for captain Marc Guehi.

Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez will be available for the season opener against Bournemouth, with Gomez returning from a minor Achilles injury.

Italian football legend Arrigo Sacchi has expressed his disappointment over the possibility of Leoni leaving Serie A to join Liverpool.

“Liverpool would make a great signing, and he could thrive in the Premier League,” he said.

“It’s a shame he’s eluding the big clubs in Serie A.

On the one hand, the news makes me immensely happy, and on the other, it makes me a little angry.

“Let me explain – I’m happy that an Italian player is receiving praise from a major club like Liverpool, but I wish AC Milan or Inter, Juventus or Napoli were competing for his transfer, not a foreign club.

“I’m told Italian teams don’t have the same financial resources as English clubs?

Absolutely true, but I add – why hasn’t the football product been exploited here like in England?

“Why is it so complicated to buy a €40m defender for an Italian club, and yet Liverpool doesn’t flinch?”

He added: “We’ll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I feel like the Reds would make a great coup by securing this boy, whom I followed with curiosity and interest in the second half of last season.

“Leoni is only 18, and I’m told he’s a decent guy, hard-working, humble, and very determined

Character is crucial in a footballer’s career, as is temperament.”

Writing on X, Romano said: “Giovanni Leoni has completed main part of his medical and signs his contract as new Liverpool player!

“Exclusive detail in addition: contract will be valid until June 2031, six year deal at #LFC.

“Official announcement to follow this week.”

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