Liverpool star’s potential move jeopardized due to Leoni injury

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Joe Gomez Liverpool transfer

Recent Liverpool joinee Giovanni Leoni suffered a horrific injury against Southampton on Wednesday.

The Italian defender had to be stretchered off the field after an awkward landing on the knee while trying to block Casper Jander near the touchline.

Donning the Red shirt, the 18-year-old was having an impressive debut at Anfield till the 80th minute before suffering a major knee injury.



The youngster put in one tackle, three interceptions, one foul, and six clearances while also registering a pass completion rate of 96.7%, claiming a 6.99 match rating (stats via WhoScored).

Speculations were hinting at Leoni rupturing his ACL and this was later confirmed by Fabrizio Romano via an X post that suggested he can be out for several months.

This news has already created a sense of panic around the Merseyside club as head coach Slot already had a shortage in the defensive ranks.

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Even before the season started, the defending Premier League champions were battling this defensive issue.

Apart from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, LFC lacked centre-backs of first-team quality.

Leoni’s addition was seen as more of a futuristic investment rather than an immediate call for action.

At the start of the season, while addressing this situation, the Dutch mastermind clarified that in case of Van Dijk or Konate’s absence, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Andy Robertson or even Ryan Gravenberch can be handed the duty at the heart of the backline.

Although neither of the former two is currently unfit, the defensive depth is being compromised.

And Leoni’s injury has blocked the potential transfer out of Joe Gomez.

According to an update from Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini, the English defender was looking positive to join AC Milan in January ‘as the Italian side was close to signing him last summer’.

However, the young Italian defender sustaining a long-term injury ‘might now rule down the move completely’.

Slot used the Englishman in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash who played alongside the young debutant.

Although Gomez has a record of being injury-prone himself, hopefully he can be helpful to the defensively suffering Liverpool side.

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