Liverpool are poised to make yet another signing this summer as Giovanni Leoni was seen about to board a private jet at Parma Airport on Thursday morning.
Leoni, 18, was seen wheeling luggage before taking a plane destined for Liverpool, where he is set to complete a medical that would inch him closer to a move.
A video of him being seen was uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, by Italian football journalist Gianluca Di Marzio ahead of the player’s flight.
Liverpool are finalising agreement on a £26million deal for the highly-rated youngster and will pay further add-ons for the 18-year old on performances plus a sell-on percentage.
Daily Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that the Premier League champions had stepped up their interest in the defender.
The Italy Under-19 star has only played 17 times in Serie A but the Reds transfer department are understood to like Leoni a lot and are ready to pursue a move to sign him.
Liverpool are poised to make yet another signing this summer as Giovanni Leoni was seen about to board a private jet at Parma Airport on Thursday morning
Leoni, 18, was seen wheeling luggage before taking a plane destined for Liverpool, where he is set to complete a medical that would inch him closer to a move
Liverpool’s interest in Leoni, a 6ft 5in central defender, comes after the Reds previously pursued Lenny Yoro, Jorrel Hato and Dean Huijsen as they seek a long-term successor to captain Virgil van Dijk.
Sampdoria, who had only months earlier activated a £1.3m option to make a loan move from Padova permanent.
The teenager had played under former Italy international Andrea Pirlo at Sampdoria, during his stint in charge of the Serie B side.
Pirlo had dismissed concerns about the defender featuring in the first team at a young age and backed him to become a star of the future.
‘If someone had doubts about starting him from the first minute, I had none,’ Pirlo said in March 2024.
‘I see him every day in training. He played as a mature youngster, he will become a strong footballer.’
The Reds’ spending will now pass £300m – £321m in total – with Florian Wirtz arriving for £116million from Bayer Leverkusen, Hugo Ekitike costing £79m, and the likes of Jeremine Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili have also featured, having joined for £29.5m, £40m and £29m respectively.
Liverpool have been in the market for a centre back, with Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the only fit senior centre backs on their books as Joe Gomez is injured.
Liverpool are in direct contact with Crystal Palace over a move for their captain Marc Guehi
Liverpool are in, meanwhile, direct contact with Crystal Palace over a move for their skipper Guehi in a separate deal.
Daily Mail Sport reported in June how Guehi was of interest but the clubs were too far apart in their valuations.
Palace had wanted £45million for the England international, but with a year left on his contract a deal could potentially be struck for £35m.
Guehi would likely prove a shrewd addition by providing added competition for Van Dijk, with the Liverpool captain now 34.
At 25, Guehi would prove a long-term solution for the Reds, with the centre back also providing added leadership having captained the Eagles last season.
