Liverpool will likely be looking to strengthen their defensive line as they head into the 2025-26 season.
Ibrahima Konate’s future still has question marks hanging over it, and, with the departure of Jarell Quansah now confirmed, the Reds are a bit light at the back.
Indeed, Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Joe Gomez will all be available to Arne Slot next season, but having three senior centre-backs for an entire campaign is nowhere near enough.
Virgil van Dijk celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images/Getty Images For The Premier League
Marc Guehi has been the man linked with an Anfield switch the most often over the last couple of weeks, but now, it seems like a new player has entered the mix.
Liverpool are now ‘interested’ in Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni
As per a fresh report from Italian outlet InterNews, it seems like Liverpool have entered a four-horse race to sign Parma centre-back, Giovanni Leoni.
The report outlines that Liverpool are the main team ‘interested’ in acquiring his services, with Italian giants Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan also in the running.
The centre-back had a breakout season in the Serie A last term with Parma rating him around the £26million mark.
Leoni is only 18 years old with the ‘pressure’ from the aforementioned Serie A clubs now also ‘strong.’
Giovanni Leoni pictured during a Serie A match between Parma and Lazio.
Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
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As we get closer to the start of Liverpool’s pre-season, Slot will be hoping to get more of a feel for his team after five new players have already been brought in.
Of course, there’s still the chance that some players will be sold on as we get closer to the transfer deadline, but at the moment, nothing is imminent.
The Reds have always said that they’d like to invest in a young centre-back to build them up and perhaps get them for a smaller fee than clubs would expect from a regular starter.
Liverpool have always tried to promote from within, with the likes of Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones now regular starters.
At the end of the day, it’s anybody’s guess what could happen, but for now, these are likely just rumours.