Liverpool are poised to land 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma after Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed a deal is in place, with the player yet to sign.
The centre-back, who has been a key target for Slot, is understood to join for around £26m. Leoni is an Italy Under-19 international who began his career with Padova and had a brief spell at Sampdoria before moving to Parma last summer. He enjoyed a breakout Serie A season last term, making 17 appearances as Parma finished 16th, five points above relegation.
Slot said: “The clubs have agreed a deal but he has not signed for us yet. The moment he does, I can go into more detail.” He also declined to comment on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. “He’s not our player. Unfortunately, he was the captain of the team who we lost to last Sunday. If you want to have any talks about him you should go to Palace and [manager Oliver] Glasner and ask him about it,” Slot added.
Palace are believed to be asking around £40m for Guehi, who has 12 months left on his contract. Liverpool’s interest comes as they weigh a potential deal, with Klopp’s side aiming to balance development with short-term impact in a World Cup year.
Liverpool have already spent roughly £270m this summer, with about £170m recouped through player sales. A £110m bid for Alexander Isak has been rejected by Newcastle, though sources have told BBC Sport that the Sweden striker remains keen on a move to the Premier League champions. If all three targets—Leoni, Guehi and Isak—were to sign, Liverpool’s summer outlay would push past £400m.
The Reds begin the 2025-26 Premier League season with a curtain-raiser against Bournemouth at Anfield.
What this means: Leoni’s arrival signals Liverpool’s ongoing strategy to refresh their defence with young, highly rated prospects. The potential trio of Leoni, Guehi and Isak would mark a bold strengthening of the squad, reinforcing Liverpool’s intent to remain title contenders while building for the future.
Summary: Liverpool are close to signing Giovanni Leoni from Parma for around £26m, with Arms-length talks ongoing on the final terms. The move, if completed alongside potential advances for Guehi and Isak, would contribute to a record-breaking summer spending spree and set the table for a high-stakes title challenge next season.