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Liverpool find themselves facing a defensive puzzle that’s becoming increasingly difficult to solve.
With the Premier League season approaching and their squad looking thin at the back, the writing is on the wall – they desperately need reinforcements in central defence.
The Reds’ defensive concerns stretch beyond simple numbers.
While Virgil van Dijk remains the cornerstone of their backline at 34, the issues surrounding him paint a worrying picture for Arne Slot’s title aspirations.
Jarell Quansah, who completed his £35 million move to Bayer Leverkusen in July, was a great squad option that the Dutch manager can no longer call on.
Joe Gomez unfortunately cannot be relied on for a full season and has already had an Achilles heel compliant in pre-season.
Perhaps most concerning of all is Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation, which Liverpool can no longer afford to ignore.
The French defender, who has been crucial to their recent success, is entering the final year of his current deal.
And it looks like the Anfield chiefs are well are of this.
DaveOCKOP already exclusively revealed that Liverpool were keen on Marc Guehi back in March.
And now Paul Joyce of the Times has reported that the Reds have identified Parma’s Giovanni Leoni as a genuine target.
The 18-year-old centre-back has been dubbed the “new Fabio Cannavaro” by Italian media, and surprisingly counts Virgil van Dijk as his childhood idol
Born in Rome on December 21, 2006, Leoni stands at an imposing 6’5″ and represents everything Liverpool fans would want in a modern centre-back.
His rapid rise through Italian football has been meteoric – making his professional debut in Serie C just months after his 16th birthday in March 2023.
What followed was a whirlwind 18 months that saw him move from Padova to Sampdoria before ultimately landing at Parma for €4.8 million last summer.
However, Liverpool face significant obstacles in any potential pursuit.
Parma reportedly values their prized asset at around €40 million, a steep price for a player with just 17 Serie A appearances.
More concerning is Italian reports suggesting Leoni favours remaining in Italy, with Inter Milan leading the chase.
The young defender reportedly believes staying at Parma for another season would better serve his development and boost his chances of making Italy’s 2026 World Cup squad.
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