(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago)

Oliver Walton

Thu 14 August 2025 16:30, UK

Liverpool look set to sign young Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni soon as Arne Slot aims to bolster his defensive options ahead of the new season.

Liverpool could sign Marc Guehi AND Giovanni Leoni before transfer window closes	Liverpool facing unexpected challenge in Giovanni Leoni move as transfer talks rumble on	Liverpool transfer news as Marc Guehi 'wants' move and Parma 'happy' with Giovanni Leoni deal

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 in the last few months, such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, and Leoni’s imminent arrival is set to improve his lacking options at centre-back.

(Credit: Imago)

The Reds were first linked with an interest in the young Italian defender by The Times (11 August), and Leoni is now set to join Liverpool for £26million from Parma, with Slot also planning on keeping him in his squad for this season.

According to another report by The Times (13 August), both Manchester United and Newcastle tried to hijack a move for Leoni, but their late attempts proved fruitless, and here are three reasons why the 18-year-old looks to chosen a move to Liverpool over any other club.

Liverpool won the Premier League at a canter last season, with their drop-off in form toward the end of the campaign indicative of just how easily they had cruised to the triumph in Slot’s first season in charge.

They have not rested on their laurels by any means this summer with a huge transfer outlay that has put them in a seriously strong position for the new season, especially compared to both Man United and Newcastle, who should do well but are unlikely to be in a title race.

Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media

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Leoni will want to taste success early on in his career, and joining the Reds would be a tough move for any player to turn down right now in that regard as they aim to build a dynasty under Slot in the years to come.

Liverpool’s aforementioned lack of depth at centre-back was prevalent last weekend as they took part in the Community Shield without a recognised player in that position on the bench.

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Anfield ahead of the new campaign, but he is still yet to join the Reds with no offer on the table, and so Leoni will come in as their third-choice centre-back if he seals a move soon.

(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

He is likely to get game-time almost instantly due to Joe Gomez’s injury, especially in European and cup games, and that will have played a major part in his decision as he will have a chance to stake his claim to be a key man going forward this season.

Leoni is still only 18-years-old and has made just 17 Serie A appearances in his short career so far, but he looks to have bags of potential and will only get better by joining Liverpool and learning off some of the best centre-backs in the world.

AppearancesGoalsYellow Cards1713Leoni’s Parma career stats

One of those is Virgil van Dijk, and the chance to play alongside and mirror his movements in training will have also surely been a huge factor in Leoni’s choice to make the move to Merseyside.

The Dutchman has been one of the world’s best in his position since he joined the Reds in January 2018, and is still at the absolute peak of his game at 34-years-old with 49 appearances last term, and the Italy youth international will undoubtedly relish being with him as he keeps on trying to learn his trade as a teenager.

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