Liverpool Smash £300 Million Barrier with Stunning £30 Million Centre Back Signing
Liverpool are believed to be close to securing the signature of promising Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni in a move that would push their summer transfer expenditure well above £300 million ($407.1 million).
The Merseyside club have strengthened across multiple positions following their Premier League title triumph last campaign, yet defensive reinforcement at the heart of their backline has remained a priority. Ibrahima Konaté enters his contract's final 12 months while squad depth has been compromised after Jarell Quansah's departure.
Liverpool have been working to secure a deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi with negotiations potentially beginning at £30 million ($40.5 million). However, the Leoni acquisition appears significantly closer to completion, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano deploying his signature 'Here we go' confirmation.
The Anfield outfit are expected to pay Parma approximately €35 million (£30.2 million, $40.9 million) for the 18-year-old talent, with a sell-on percentage ensuring the Serie A club benefits from any future transfer.
Remarkably, despite his youth, Leoni is set to join Arne Slot's first-team squad immediately. Romano reports that a temporary move elsewhere for the youngster was "never discussed" during negotiations.
If Liverpool finalize Leoni's signing and still pursue Guéhi before September 1's transfer window closure, Slot's central defensive options would receive substantial reinforcement. This would also provide long-term security, considering Konaté could potentially depart on a free transfer next summer while Virgil van Dijk will approach his 36th birthday when his current deal expires in 2027.
Leoni has accumulated just 33 professional appearances thus far, including 17 Serie A outings with Parma during the previous campaign. The imposing 18-year-old developed through Padova's system before spending 2023–24 on loan at Sampdoria in Serie B. Though Sampdoria exercised their purchase option, they immediately transferred him to Parma.