Liverpool have moved closer to securing the signing of 18-year-old Italian defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma, with Reds manager Arne Slot confirming a deal has been agreed. The transfer is reported to be worth approximately £26 million.
Leoni, an Italian Under-19 international, started his career at Padova and had a brief spell at Sampdoria before joining Parma last summer. He made a significant impression in Serie A last season, featuring 17 times as Parma finished 16th, just five points above the relegation zone.
“The clubs have agreed a deal, but he has not signed for us yet. The moment he does, I can go into more detail,” Slot said in a press briefing.
When asked about a potential move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, Slot declined to comment. “He’s not our player. Unfortunately, he was the captain of the team who we lost to last Sunday. If you want to have any talks about him, you should go to Palace and [manager Oliver] Glasner,” he added.
Palace are reportedly asking around £40m for Guehi, who has only a year left on his contract, while Liverpool are understood to be negotiating for a lower fee. The defender’s playing time at Anfield would also be an important factor ahead of the World Cup.
Liverpool have already spent roughly £270m this summer but have recouped around £170m from player sales. They also saw a £110m bid for striker Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though the Swede remains keen on a move to the Premier League champions.
With Leoni, Guehi, and Isak all linked, Liverpool’s summer spending could surpass £400m. The Reds are set to kick off their 2025-26 title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield this Friday.
