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Giovanni Leoni of Parma(Image: Leo Simon - Parma Calcio 1913/Parma Calcio 1913 via Getty Images)

Liverpool face a race against time to sign Giovanni Leoni in time for the Italian to be available for their Premier League opener at home to AFC Bournemouth.

The Reds have agreed an initial £26m deal with Parma to sign the teenage centre-back.

The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to Merseyside to undergo a medical and complete his move to the Premier League champions.



But with Liverpool’s title defence getting underway on Friday night, the defender is unlikely to be available for selection against the Cherries.

The Premier League states that players must be registered by 12pm the last working day before a game in order to be eligible to feature.

READ MORE:Arne Slot responds to Marc Guehi transfer question as Liverpool medical set after £26m dealREAD MORE:Liverpool could be without four players for Premier League opener against Bournemouth

As a result, the Reds have until midday on Thursday to register Leoni if they wish to select the defender against Bournemouth.

Admittedly, even if Liverpool did not register the Italian in time, it would be debatable whether Arne Slot would throw him straight onto the bench - having not even yet trained with his new team-mates.

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The Reds saw off competition from a number of elite Italian clubs and Premier League sides to sign Leoni, with the player adamant he wanted to move to the Premier League champions.

Once the defender has completed his move, he will immediately join Slot’s first team set-up for the season, with any suggestion of a loan exit completely ruled out.

Should Leoni not be registered in time to face Bournemouth, he will instead be eligible to make his Liverpool debut away at Newcastle United on Monday 25 August.

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The Reds have looked to bolster their centre-back ranks ahead of the new season after selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35m earlier in the summer.

While finalising a deal for Leoni, Liverpool have also been in talks with Crystal Palace over a possible move for Eagles captain Marc Guehi.

Slot will be able to call upon the services of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez against Bournemouth, with the England international returning to training earlier this week after missing the majority of pre-season with a minor Achilles injury.


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