TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Liverpool are now keen to sign one of the best young defenders in Europe.
Richard Hughes – Director of Football at Anfield – is in the market for a new central defender, as contract talks with Ibrahima Konate stall.
Liverpool are admirers of Marc Guehi – the England international only has 12 months remaining on his contract at Crystal Palace – but as that pursuit stalls, sources have exclusively informed TBR Football that the Reds now have a genuine interest in Parma No.46 Giovanni Leoni.
Exclusive news emerges as Liverpool target Giovanni Leoni
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has now been informed that Liverpool are one of several Premier League sides targeting the Italian.
We understand Parma are eager to keep Leoni, having only signed the 18-year-old from Sampdoria in June 2024 for a fee of around £10m.
However, the Serie A outfit look set to have their resolve seriously tested.
TBR Football are aware that Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and Bournemouth are all interested in Leoni along with Liverpool, while Italian giants Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus are admirers too.
Bailey says: “One scout has told me that Leoni is probably the best young defender he saw last season – composed, elegant and defensively astute. He actually compared him to Dean Huijsen.
“Parma insist they do not want to sell, but the chance of trebling their money on him in just 12 months might be too much to say no to.
“I am told that Parma were happy for Leoni to be under the radar, but with clubs flocking to see (Zion) Suzuki, it was only natural that Leoni would attract interest too, and that is exactly what has happened.
“I believe Parma would be doing very well to keep Leoni beyond this summer.”
TBR Football can also provide exclusive news on Zion Suzuki
Regarding the aforementioned Suzuki, Manchester United and West Ham are understood to be admirers of the Japan international.
In fact, TBR Football have been told West Ham made contact with Parma last week over a deal for the goalkeeper, as Graham Potter is keen to have a new No.1 in place for next season.
However, Suzuki is not expected to agitate for a move away this summer, so West Ham must be convincing in talks with the 22-year-old.