Liverpool transfer news as Giovanni Leoni is reportedly attracting interest from Italy, while the Reds are being linked with a battle with Chelsea for another defender
Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool during a training session at Endeavor Health Performance Center
Giovanni Leoni has been linked with a move back to Italy(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)
The international break is almost over, and Liverpool can soon get back down to business in the Premier League as it looks to build on Andoni Iraola’s promising start in charge.
The Reds remain unbeaten under their new head coach, and there are signs that Iraola is making an impact on his players. Bigger tests lie in wait though, starting with the visit of Manchester City on Sunday.
Even before that game, there are some obvious areas of Liverpool squad that could do with some work, and no doubt returning sporting director Julian Ward will already be looking at some potential targets before he gets his first chance to do some business in January.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.
Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool)
Liverpool is bracing itself for bids for Giovanni Leoni, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, with Juventus claimed to be targeting the young defender as part of a squad rebuild.
The Turin club is said to have set its focus on establishing a strong Italian core, and has identified Leoni as a target after deeming Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and Chelsea’s Marco Palestra unattainable.
The report claims multiple attempts have already been made to take Leoni on loan, and Juventus will continue to send scouts to monitor the 19-year-old, although Liverpool is not keen to let him go.
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Liverpool.com says: Why on earth would you try to sign a player on loan who is still recovering from an ACL injury? You'd at least wait until he's actually back in training, wouldn't you?
And even if Juve is interested, there's surely no way Liverpool would even entertain the idea of letting Leoni go after just a year. There are high hopes for the teenager, and he needs to be given a chance to actually show what he's capable of once he's back fit.
Murillo (Nottingham Forest)
Liverpool faces a battle with Chelsea for the signing of Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to Football Insider.
It’s claimed that there is a growing feeling that the Brazilian could be lured away from the City Ground at the turn of the year, despite him signing a contract extension until 2030 in May.
Murillo of Nottingham Forest warms up ahead of kick-off during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Coventry City at the City Ground in Nottingham, on September 19, 2026. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Murillo signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest in May(Image: Getty Images)
The Reds are suggested to be eyeing Murillo up as a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk, with Chelsea also keeping close eye on the situation, although the report also states that Forest will not entertain offers in the January window.
Liverpool.com says: It's not the first time Murillo has been linked with Liverpool, and previous reports haven't come to much, so you suspect that if the Reds were really interested, they might have made a move by now.
In any case, Forest has shown itself to be a difficult club to do with business with over the last couple of years, and with a new contract in tow, you can't imagine this would be a deal Liverpool would try to pursue.