According to multiple reports, Liverpool are closing in on deals to sign centre-backs Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace and Giovanni Leoni of Serie A side Parma.
The Reds currently have just three senior centre-halves in the ranks after selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could rise to £35m, and they are undoubtedly in need of reinforcements.
Additionally, Arne Slot's Premier League champions have looked defensively vulnerable in pre-season, especially during counterattacks, a trend that continued into Sunday's Community Shield defeat.
Here, Sports Mole considers how Guehi and Leoni could fit into Liverpool's plans, and how they compare to the club's other centre-back signings.
Giovanni Leoni of Parma during his side's match against Juventus, on April 23, 2025
Why are Liverpool interested in Marc Guehi and Giovanni Leoni?
Palace captain Guehi has established himself as one of the best defenders in the English top flight in recent seasons, and he guided the Eagles to their first ever major trophy in 2024-25.
The 25-year-old is renowned for his composure on the ball, and his ability to pick out passes could help the Reds to offset the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold's long-range contributions from deep areas.
Another reason for Liverpool's interest is the fact that Guehi has one year remaining on his contract with the Londoners, meaning that he is available for a cut price this summer.
As for Leoni, the 18-year-old is considered to be one of the most promising players in his position in world football, and his combination of immense physicality and a reading of the game beyond his years has put him on the champions' radar.
With stalwart captain Virgil van Dijk now 34, it remains to be seen whether he will still be at the peak of his powers beyond his current two-year deal, and the Merseysiders have earmarked the Italian centre-back as a possible heir.
Liverpool's Ibrahim Konate celebrates with Virgil van Dijk on September 28, 2024
How do Guehi and Leoni compare to Jurgen Klopp's centre-back signings?
Under former manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's most-used players at the heart of defence were Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate, all of whom were fast and at least six feet and four inches tall.
The German manager placed a priority on physical dominance from his centre-backs, who he tasked with the demanding role of covering out wide for the Reds' attacking full-backs as well as controlling the air.
Unlike those signings, Guehi is listed as being on the lower side of six feet tall, perhaps hinting at the differing approach under Slot.
Leoni on the other hand is more in line with the profile of a Klopp defender, with the Parma starboy listed as six feet and five inches tall, despite only being a teenager.
In Serie A, the youngster has famously triumphed in duels against some of the strongest forwards in Europe, including the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Dusan Vlahovic, and his blend of strength and pace makes it clear to see why the club have identified him as a potential successor to Van Dijk.
Marc Guehi and Joe Gomez of England on September 27, 2024
How could Guehi and Leoni fit into Slot's Liverpool plans?
During pre-season, Slot utilised midfielders at centre-half in every friendly match, with Ryan Gravenberch, Luca Stephenson and Trey Nyoni amongst the out-of-position players serving shifts in the Dutchman's back four.
This could indicate the desire to line up with a more capable ball-player in the backline, a role that Guehi could excel in at Anfield in 2025-26.
With the idea of positional flexibility in mind, the England international has experience of playing both at full-back and in midfield, and given that Liverpool lined up without a specialist number six during Sunday's Community Shield, Guehi may provide Slot with an auxiliary option.
Additionally, Quansah was used at right-back at times by both Klopp and Slot, and the Eagles captain would likely take up his minutes across the defence.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool goes down with injury during his side's UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, on November 27, 2024
Some have questioned whether any arrival could replace Konate in the XI, but the Frenchman enjoyed arguably his best season to date in a Reds shirt last term, and it is difficult to picture him being displaced.
However, he does have an injury history that suggests he is unlikely to go through the upcoming campaign without being sidelined, and should a newcomer perform well in his absence, they may shake up the established pecking order.
In terms of Leoni, it has been claimed that the Reds want to keep him in the squad as one of five options rather than letting him leave on loan this summer, and he could benefit from learning from Van Dijk while making sporadic appearances.
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