Giovanni Leoni is targeting pre-season to return from injury and has shown his commitment with an early return to Liverpool.
We may have only seen 81 minutes of Leoni in action, but it was enough to get us all excited about what the future could hold.
After tearing his ACL on his debut last September, Leoni missed the full campaign. The Athletic‘s James Pearce recently reported that he is now on course to be ready for pre-season.
The 19-year-old has been working hard to manage this, and his latest Instagram story indicates he is already back and motivated to be involved in Andoni Iraola‘s first sessions.
Early on Monday morning, Leoni posted a photo of the entrance to the AXA Training Centre as he continues down the road to full fitness.
Giovanni Leoni’s role next season
The Italian centre-half, who signed for £26 million from Parma, may be young but he plays with the confidence of a more senior defender.
His skillset on the ball should suit the new coach who, like Arne Slot, wants his centre-backs to be comfortable in possession and able to play quick, vertical passes.
Leoni will also be required to defend big spaces, something that, at his age, he has the pace to manage.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The departure of Ibrahima Konate means that a starting spot next to Virgil van Dijk is up for grabs, with Joe Gomez and Jeremy Jacquet also competing for the place.
Jeremy Jacquet is also close to a return
Like Leoni, 20-year-old Jacquet has also been dealing with an injury.
The £60m signing has been out since February, having fallen victim to a shoulder injury which required surgery, ending his final campaign for Rennes early.
Thankfully, Pearce also reports that Jacquet should be in line to be ready for day one of pre-season.
3BA119J Jeremy JACQUET of Rennes during the French championship Ligue 1 football match between Stade Rennais and OGC Nice on 10 May 2025 at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France
The French centre-back knows that he won’t necessarily go straight into the side, despite the big fee paid for his acquisition.
Asked by Ouest France if he has been given assurances over playing time, Jacquet said: “No.
“For me, a player shouldn’t need that. He has to prove himself on the pitch.”
It is a good attitude to have and one that new coach Iraola should appreciate, having already declared that he will view each player with a clean slate.
Liverpool’s centre-back situation will look significantly more positive if their main two prospects can enjoy a full pre-season.