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Liverpool are about to have a new centre-back on their hands and they may have just found a hidden gem.

The Reds have always been shrewd operators in the transfer market and managed to turn players from good footballers into absolute world beaters.

Although their strategy has slightly changed this summer, they are always prepared to make a move if a good opportunity arises, just like they have done now.

Giovanni Leoni was one of the hottest young centre-backs around and is held in very high regard in Italy, although not too many people know much about him.

However, Liverpool fans have now been told what they can expect from their soon-to-be new signing, and it would suggest they have just pulled off one of the best deals of the summer.

Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images

Whenever a young player comes through the ranks, people will start to compare them to greats that their nation has seen before, hyping them up only to watch them fall.

But, Leoni seemed to deal with these comparisons rather well last season despite it being one of his first in senior football, even if he has been compared to legend Paolo Maldini.

Ahead of his proposed move, Italian journalist Daniele Fisichella has reiterated why he is compared to the former AC Milan captain, and Reds fans might not be able to contain their excitement.

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“The performances and number do not lie,” Fisichella told Redmen TV 2 about Leoni.

READ MORE: Liverpool appear to have won the race for Giovanni Leoni using their own secret weapon

“He is an imposing figure, very tall, strongly built, and very strong physically in terms of being able to hold off challenges against centre-forwards even more experienced than him.

“He is quick, a good striker of the ball, good passer, and he is extremely good at reading the game.

“He goes back to the traditional great Italian defenders such as Maldini, who once said ‘if I have to make a tackle then I’ve made a mistake’.

Leoni is in that mould as he anticipates the play well.”

He may only be 18 but expectations for Leoni could not be higher, with Liverpool seeing him as Virgil van Dijk’s long term replacement.

Now 34, van Dijk has two years left on his current deal and Leoni is expected to be his understudy before taking over when his time comes.

Who he will eventually play alongside is yet to be seen, although many fans might be hoping that it will be Marc Guehi.

Liverpool still remain interested in the Crystal Palace captain and want to bring in another centre-back alongside Leoni, suggesting it will be a busy ending to August for the Reds.