(Credit: Imago)

Oliver Walton

Wed 13 August 2025 21:16, UK

Man United and Newcastle have each tried last-ditch attempts to sign Parma centre-back Geovanni Leoni as he nears a move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Liverpool could sign Marc Guehi AND Giovanni Leoni before transfer window closes	Liverpool transfer news as Marc Guehi 'wants' move and Parma 'happy' with Giovanni Leoni deal	'I'm angry and disappointed about Giovanni Leoni's transfer to Liverpool'

Liverpool’s extravagant spending throughout the summer window is showing no signs of slowing down as the transfer deadline edges ever closer.

Arne Slot has moved to bring in a whole host of stars this summer, such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, but he is yet to bolster his lacking options at centre-back.

(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Anfield ahead of the new campaign, but the Reds have been focusing their efforts elsewhere in recent weeks with young Parma defender Leoni on their radar.

The Times (11 August) have reported that Liverpool are pursuing Leoni, and they now look set to seal his signature soon, but have faced strong competition for the 18-year-old with the deal nearly completed.

The Times (13 August) have updated their initial report by revealing that the Reds are closing in on a £26million deal for Parma centre-back Leoni, and he is set to go straight into the first team set-up rather than return to Italy on loan.

AppearancesGoalsYellow Cards1713Leoni’s Parma career stats

Their report also states that Premier League sides, including Manchester United and Newcastle, also “showed late interest” in the 18-year-old, but their approaches proved fruitless and he is still set to move to Merseyside provided that there are no late hitches with the deal.

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Rome-born Leoni has played for Italy at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level, and began his professional career in Serie C with Padova before he moved to Sampdoria and then Parma last summer.

Football Insider verdict

It is clear that other positions, mainly attacking ones, have taken precedence in the transfer market for Arne Slot this summer, but the Reds now seem to be focusing their efforts on bolstering their centre-back depth.

They certainly need to be doing so, given that the Dutch boss only has Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as senior options in that position right now, with the latter injured, after Jarell Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the summer.

(Credit Imago)

Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (12 August) that Liverpool are planning to make an official move for Guehi late in the transfer window, and must do so, as Leoni is still very inexperienced and will not be enough cover if injuries continue to strike.

The 18-year-old has clearly been signed Quansah’s replacement rather than a potential successor of Konate if he moves on next summer, with just 17 Serie A appearances under his belt, but he looks to have bags of potential and could well become a key man at Anfield in the years to come.

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