Liverpool were dogged by injury problems last season, but journalist James Pearce has provided a positive update regarding one important Reds player.
Andoni Iraola was on press conference duty on Tuesday, ahead of the tour of the USA, discussing whether he has a specific number of signings he wants to make this summer:
“No, I think it’s difficult to say a number when the market is open, and you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players.
“A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger. But there are other situations that we will have to analyse what the market gives you, what’s the cost, how we also see the players we have. We have some tricky positions where we have injured players that we trust but is still not the ideal situation. So, it will depend on a lot of things.”
Iraola was also asked about Liverpool’s injury situation, and Pearce relayed a six-word update on X regarding Giovanni Leoni’s return to the fold: “Leoni not far off a return.”
Can Giovanni Leoni be a key starter for Liverpool next season?
To use an old cliche, Leoni could feel like a new signing for Liverpool, considering the highly-rated young Italian centre-back suffered a serious knee injury on his Reds debut.
Even in that game, he looked like a class act with a huge amount of potential, with legendary former AC Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi one of many to have praised him in recent times:
“Leoni is a modern central defender. He knows how to play man-to-man, he’s gritty, he’s physically strong, and he doesn’t let anyone move him. I remember a splendid performance he gave against a centre-forward of Lukaku’s calibre.”
Liverpool must not rush Leoni back too soon from injury, risking aggravating the problem, but once he is fully fit and firing, there is no reason why he can’t be a key starter alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Ibrahima Konate has left for Real Madrid, and while Jeremy Jacquet is arguably the favourite to start for now – another centre-back signing also wouldn’t go amiss – Leoni will be right in the mix eventually, too,
Henry is an experienced football writer with a huge passion and knowledge of Liverpool.
He is also a main contributor for This Is Anfield, one of the world's biggest Reds-related sites, where he writes features and news, and covers matchday content.
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