Overview

• Liverpool have reached an agreement with Parma to sign 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni for around £26 million plus add-ons.
• The Italy youth international has permission to travel to Liverpool to finalise personal terms and undergo a medical, with no loan back to Parma planned.
• Leoni made 17 Serie A appearances last season, stands roughly 6ft 4in tall and earned high praise from Andrea Pirlo for his physical and ball-playing qualities.
• The club are pursuing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi in a parallel move to combine Premier League-ready experience with long-term succession planning.
• The signing addresses Liverpool’s urgent need for depth after the sale of Jarell Quansah and pre-season injuries to Joe Gomez and uncertainty over Ibrahima Konaté’s contract.