Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that the club has reached an agreement with Parma to sign highly-rated 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni in a £26 million ($35 million) deal. The promising defender, who has just 17 Serie A appearances to his name, is set to bolster Liverpool’s defensive options following the departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. Slot, speaking ahead of Friday’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, stressed that while a deal has been agreed between the clubs, Leoni has yet to officially sign. “The moment when he signs for us I can go into more detail,” Slot said.
The move comes during a summer of heavy investment for the reigning Premier League champions, who last season claimed a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. Liverpool have already spent £260 million to secure Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, as Slot looks to strengthen from a position of power. However, injuries and contract uncertainties have left the defensive line thin, with Joe Gomez sidelined for most of pre-season and Ibrahima Konate entering the final year of his contract. Reports suggest Liverpool could still add more cover, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi among those linked to Anfield.
Despite the ambitious rebuild, Liverpool face a stern challenge in defending their crown, having not retained a league title since 1984. Slot acknowledged that this season’s competition will be fiercer than ever. “We have lost five to six players who played quite a lot of minutes last season, and brought in four, so it’s normal there is adaptation,” he said. Departures this summer include key figures such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Caoimhin Kelleher, while the club is still mourning the tragic loss of forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident last month.
The headline signing of the summer, Florian Wirtz, arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could rise to £116 million — potentially a British transfer record. Slot is confident the German international has the mentality to thrive despite the pressure of the price tag. “When you see him play he is so creative. He is mentally strong, he doesn’t get distracted by a transfer fee or anything else,” Slot said, adding that Wirtz’s early adjustment to English football has been better than expected.
With the new season set to kick off, Liverpool’s refreshed squad will aim to build on last year’s triumph while adapting to significant changes in personnel. Slot has warned that the road ahead will be challenging, but with young talents like Leoni and big-money signings such as Wirtz, the club is hoping its blend of youth and experience will provide the foundation for another title charge.
