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Marc Guehi will reportedly stay at Crystal Palace this season despite transfer interest from Liverpool

Liverpool are edging ever closer to the opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and Arne Slot's maiden title defence as Reds boss.

They've wasted no time in strengthening their ranks ahead of next season, bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman.

The Reds are also closing in on a £26 m transfer deal for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni, who will provide first team competition.

The Liverpool Echo has taken a look at the latest Liverpool transfer news and speculation ahead of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

Sky Sports claim it's likely that Marc Guehi will stay at Crystal Palace for the upcoming campaign and leave the club as a free agent next summer when his contract expires.

They report that although Liverpool have held talks with the Community Shield winners for the England international, there is currently a gap in the two clubs' valuations of the defender.

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Sky add that stance could change in the coming days but Oliver Glasner does not want to let his captain leave on the cheap, while Liverpool know they can sign him on a free transfer next summer.

They claim that, at the current moment in time, Guehi is not pushing to leave the club and is happy to stay at Selhurst Park, but would also be open to talking to Liverpool should the two clubs reach an agreement.

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Italian football legend Arrigo Sacchi has heaped praise on Liverpool transfer target Leoni and wrote about the prospective move to Anfield in his column for Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.

"Liverpool would make a great signing and he could thrive in the Premier League," Sacchi said.

On the one hand, the news makes me immensely happy, and on the other, it makes me a little angry.

"Let me explain – I’m happy that an Italian player is receiving praise from a major club like Liverpool, but I wish AC Milan or Inter, Juventus, or Napoli were competing for his transfer, not a foreign club.

"We’ll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I feel like the Reds would make a great coup by securing this boy, whom I followed with curiosity and interest in the second half of last season.

Leoni is only eighteen, and I’m told he’s a decent guy, hard-working, humble, and very determined.

"Character is crucial in a footballer’s career, as is temperament.

It seems to me that Leoni is off to a good start: after all, if a major European club like Liverpool is persistently pursuing him, there must be a reason."

He'd go on to praise the 18-year-old before discussing his strengths and weaknesses: "Leoni is a modern central defender.

I remember a splendid performance he gave against a centre-forward of Lukaku’s calibre.

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"The kid wasn’t scared at all in front of the great champion.

He followed him to every area of the pitch, because the plan called for a fixed marking, he engaged in aerial and ground duels, and I don’t recall a single time Lukaku managed to get past his opponent.

"We’re dealing with a talent, there’s no doubt about that.