Liverpool still have work to do in the transfer market this summer as they attempt to rebuild a team that can challenge at the top of the Premier League once again.

The Reds won the title against the odds during Arne Slot’s first year in charge, but expectations will be raised ahead of the new term.

It remains to be seen how the devastating loss of Diogo Jota will affect Liverpool players, however, and no supporter is really thinking about anything other than the Portuguese and his family at this time.

Sadly, the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes in the Liverpool recruitment team still have a job to do, no matter how impossibly difficult that feels.

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After selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds are in need of adding another centre-back to the squad.

And as they look to fill Quansah’s place with an up and coming young defender, Hughes looks like he may have found the ideal option in Italy.

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Although Marc Guehi has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, the Crystal Palace captain has always felt like a more natural potential replacement for contract rebel Ibrahima Konate.

In terms of replacing Quansah, there have been suggestions that Liverpool will look in the 18-22-year-old bracket of players, for a youngster who can develop within the squad.

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A number of players have been linked, from Nathan Zeze to Ousmane Diomande, but the latest name to arrive in the gossip columns feels like a better fit.

Reports from Italy suggest Liverpool are pushing to sign Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

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Although Parma would seemingly prefer to keep Leoni, it is also claimed he could be available for around £26m.

As they look for a player who could play third or fourth fiddle initially, that is potentially the kind of price that will appeal to Liverpool.

SeasonClubAppearancesDivision2022/23Padova1Serie C2023/24Sampdoria12Serie B2024/25Parma17Serie AGiovanni Leoni career so far

At 18, Leoni is on the younger side of things, but already has experience in Serie A and looks destined for the big stage.

He would surely be happy with a back-up brief at Liverpool to kick off, while his potential could lead to him becoming a starter one day.

With Hughes very much an expert in Italian football, he will also be well aware of what is needed to get a deal for Leoni done.

While some would argue that signing an 18-year-old from Italy with only 30 appearances to his name is a gamble, we’re not sure Liverpool will see it that way.

Leoni is clearly an exceptional talent.

To be playing first team football for a good Parma team at 18 confirms that.

The last time a similar prospect came on the market in Italy, his name was Dean Huijsen.

Liverpool could have signed Huijsen from Juventus for less than £13m in 2024, but chose to pass up the chance.

Clearly, there is no guarantee that Leoni will have anything like the impact of Huijsen, but Liverpool can seemingly save themselves a big chunk of cash in the future by securing the teenager early on.

It remains to be seen exactly which route Liverpool do go down in their centre-back search, but it’s becoming clear that Leoni is a player who ticks pretty much every box.