Liverpool told it has signed 'next Virgil van Dijk' after beating Premier League rivals
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Martin Semmens, the man who signed Giovanni Leoni for Parma last year, has claimed Liverpool has secured the heir to Virgil van Dijk this summer, following the Italian defender’s move to Anfield.
Liverpool fought off competition to sign Leoni from Parma in a deal worth £26million ($35M) plus add-ons.
The Reds believe they have brought in one of the brightest young center-backs in Europe, despite Leoni playing just 17 senior matches in his career.
Semmens was similarly convinced of the teenager’s talents when he ratified his move from Sampdoria to Parma the previous year.
Semmens took up a similar role at London City Lionesses last month and revealed his admiration for Leoni in a recent interview.
Asked on talkSPORT if the new Liverpool defender is the “heir” to Van Dijk, he replied: “Yeah, absolutely for me.
“We signed him the second year I was there in the summer, and I have a deep love for the likes of Tino Livramento [for Southampton] and signing these young players.
Leoni joined from Parma this summer
“The view was that they would probably stay there longer than one year, but Leoni was such a level, and again, I think it highlights Liverpool's ability that they spotted that.
“There were other clubs in the Premier League that asked me about him - not as an executive for Parma because I'd left by then, and I told them what I thought, and they didn't follow through on it.
"Five or six Premier League teams asked me," Semmens added
Leoni impressed last season for Parma