Liverpool look to be closing in on a deal for Parma’s highly rated centre-back, Giovanni Leoni, with the Serie A side now seemingly prepared to sell the teenager for around €35 million.
Italian journalist Nicolo Ceccarini reports that while the Reds have yet to table a formal bid, they’ve already opened direct talks to gauge the player’s availability. Those discussions have reportedly boosted Liverpool’s belief that an agreement can be reached. Inter Milan, once a serious rival in the race, are now thought to have dropped out.
Earlier rumours suggested Parma might accept €30 million plus add-ons, but Ceccarini claims their preferred package is closer to €35 million — a figure that could seal Leoni’s move to Anfield. The key question is whether Liverpool will stretch to meet that valuation.
Why the Move Makes Sense Now
The push for Leoni comes at a pivotal moment. The £35 million sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen has left Arne Slot short in central defence, and Joe Gomez’s injury has only deepened the shortage. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté are now the only fully fit senior options.
Slot and Van Dijk have both acknowledged the urgent need for reinforcements, especially after Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace. Despite spending over £300 million this summer — bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pesci, and Freddie Woodman — shoring up the defence remains a pressing priority.
The Player and His Growing Reputation
Leoni’s stock has risen sharply following a breakthrough season at Parma, where he made 17 Serie A appearances and scored once. Still only 18, he has already featured for Italy’s under-19s and earned praise from some of the country’s footballing greats.
Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi hailed Leoni as “a young man with the qualities to go far,” citing his calmness, mentality, and work rate. Sacchi brushed aside concerns over inexperience, insisting that “talent knows no age” and predicting the youngster would make very few errors thanks to his maturity and dedication.
What’s Next
Liverpool are believed to have reached a verbal agreement with Leoni on personal terms, leaving the fee with Parma as the final obstacle. Despite the defender being under contract until 2029, sources close to the talks expect a deal could be wrapped up within days.
If completed, Leoni would be part of Liverpool’s long-term defensive plans, potentially alongside another key target, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The dual pursuit reflects a strategy of strengthening for the present while planning for the future.
Should the move go through, Liverpool would not just be signing a defender for today — but securing a cornerstone for their backline for the next decade.
