Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Giovanni Leoni, a reported Liverpool transfer target, previously revealed that Virgil van DIjk was a source of inspiration for him.

The Reds are in the market for a new center-back following Jarell Quansah's move to Bayer Leverkusen last month, which left Arne Slot with just three senior center-backs in his squad.

The Liverpool head coach clearly needs reinforcements to ease the burden on Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, and young Italian defender Leoni is apparently on the Reds' radar.

Speaking in 2023, Leoni told Padova Calcio that he "takes inspiration from Van Dijk" — although he also said another player he took inspiration from was Chris Smalling.

Guehi is out of contract at Crystal Palace, the club he captains, in 2026, and there is no indication that he intends to pen a new deal with the Selhurst Park club.

If Guehi, who has reportedly reemerged as a target for Newastle, doesn't get a move this summer, he will be free to leave Palace for nothing from July 1 next year.

Liverpool's need for a new center-back this summer was underlined last month as Gomez flew back from the Reds' pre-season tour in Asia due to an Achilles inju ry.

Gomez has a reputation for being injury-prone, and his 2024-25 campaign was ended at the beginning of February by a hamstring injury he sustained in an FA Cup game against Plymouth.



Joe Gomez has an achilles injury

Addressing Gomez's latest setback while speaking during the tour, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said: "He was, of course, with us for the first part of the week, but he had some achilles problems.

"We thought it was better to assess it back in England and for him to work on him to come back to the team, probably in more ideal circumstances for him than be part of the group that every time goes out.

"So, we decided to let him go back to England

But we hope and expect to have him back soon."

Irrespective of when Gomez returns, it's clear that Slot cannot hang his hat on Gomez due to his fitness record, and Liverpool obviously cannot afford to go into the new season with Van Dijk and Konate as its only other center-backs.

Gomez did not figure in either of the friendlies against Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday as he is yet to return to fitness.