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With Virgil van Dijk ageing, and only Joe Gomez and Rhys Williams as backup, Liverpool cannot afford to be short at the back, not with four competitions ahead.

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While Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has long been admired at Anfield, his hefty price tag — rumoured to be £50 million — has put that move on ice for now.

Instead, Liverpool appears to be turning their attention to youth.

One name on their radar is Giovanni Leoni, the 18-year-old Parma defender who impressed in Serie A last season.

He’s raw but full of promise—a classic Liverpool move, much like when they plucked Stefan Baj?eti? before anyone blinked.

But there’s a catch.

Bailey added: “I’m told that Parma want to keep him this summer… he’s also not the sort of person who’d want to sit on the bench.”

So, if Leoni isn’t keen on a supporting role, Liverpool may have to think twice before making a move now.

Fans may hope for an instant fix, but the club seems focused on planning for the long haul.

Whether that’s with Guehi, Leoni, or a surprise name, one thing is clear — Liverpool don’t want to get caught offside in the transfer market.

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