Liverpool continue summer spending as £26m Giovanni Leoni transfer completed

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for an initial £26m. The 18-year-old defender will get his first taste of Anfield tonight as he will watch the Reds take on Bournemouth in their Premier League opener.

Leoni has signed a six-year contract with the reigning champions. The financial package starts at £26m with add-ons but it is understood the total will not surpass £30m.

It would seem particularly shrewd business by Liverpool given the rave reviews for Leoni in Italy. He broke through with Parma last season and played 17 games in the second half of the season under manager Cristian Chivu.

Leoni’s relationship with Chivu meant it was a real possibility he ended up at Inter Milan as that is now where Chivu is in charge. Liverpool managed to see off competition from Inter and their city rivals AC Milan while there was interest closer to home.

Newcastle United had a failed bid for the defender with Eddie Howe a big fan. But Liverpool convinced the player that Anfield is the best place for his development and offered a clear path to first-team football.

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That is also why there was no chance of the Reds agreeing to a request from Parma to loan him back this season. Arne Slot wants defensive depth after the departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen leaving them light at the back.

Leoni provides that and will be ready to step in when needed this season, with cup competitions expected to give him first-team action as well as Champions League depending on the draw. But Liverpool believe he would be ready for the Premier League should they suffer multiple injuries given how he dealt with the physicality of strikers like Romelu Lukaku in Serie A.

They see him as one for now and the future after failed attempts to bring in a young centre-back over the last two years.
Liverpool wanted Levi Colwill but he stayed at Chelsea while Leny Yoro opted for Manchester United last summer and Dean Huijsen headed for Real Madrid in this window. But the Reds have now got one of Italian football’s brightest young talents.

There is succession planning ongoing with captain Virgil van Dijk now 34 and having signed a new two-year deal which will take him to 36. The Reds are also trying to get Ibrahima Konate to sign a new deal while Real Madrid linger as there is just 12 months left on his current contract.

Joe Gomez is back to full fitness meaning Slot now has four senior centre-backs. They remain in for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, though. Talks will continue with Crystal Palace over the next few days as they look to secure a deal before the window closes.

Palace chairman Steve Parish would be a reluctant seller even though Guehi wants to go to Anfield and could leave for nothing next summer. Liverpool won’t pay over their valuation and have the luxury of waiting 12 months to get the England international for nothing now they’ve landed Leoni.

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