Liverpool announced the signing of 18-year-old central defender Giovanni Leoni von Parma.
The young Italian comes to the Reds in a deal worth £ 26 million and has written a six -year contract that will be kept in Anfield by the summer of 2031.
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He will wear the shirt No. 15 in Anfield – previously worn by attackers Alex Oxlade -Chamberlain, Daniel Sturridge, Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch.
It was reported that the reds consider a double defense signing, with the exploration talks also held a blow to the Captain Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
The Premier League master, however, sees Leoni as a defender at the elite level, who will immediately take up one of four central defense options on her first team.
It is assumed that Liverpool feels that the teenager meets his need for depth in this position, even though they remain active when a market chance is late in the window.
Guehi has concluded the last year of his contract with Palace and could leave Selhurt Park as Free Agent next summer.
And while there are doubts about Ibrahima Konate, with reports to contact him next summer with a possible free transmission to Real Madrid, Talksport understands that Liverpool remains in discussions with its representatives about an extension of the contract.
Regardless of Konate’s future with the red, the capture of Leoni is a coup for Arne Slot with the top clubs in series A who register their interest in the teenager.
Newcastle was also long -term admirers, with the magpies brought in a formal offer for Parma for its signature.
But this approach was rejected by the player when Liverpool confessed their interest.
“I am very happy to be here,” said the last summer signing in his first interview with his new club. “It is a really big sensation and it is an honor to be here.
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“Yes, a lot [of excitement]. I am honored. I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]. When I saw that, I said: “Wow, that’s crazy.” I am very happy. “
After the top -class arrivals by Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekikte, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, Slot and the club’s recruitment team focused on bringing in a new central defender.
After the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds remained in the summer and the departure from NAT Phillips to West Brom.
But you have now found a replacement in Leoni, which is expected to be called in the next senior Italy squad and will play the regular Premier League football this season.
Leoni was under contract with Parma until 2029, but Slot wanted to act quickly to land him because the number of clubs was also enthusiastic, and made no secret of his wish to acquire a defender before the window closes.
Before the Community Shield defeat on Sunday against Palace, he said: “We have more than enough options [in that area]But if we see a chance on the market, we will not hesitate to act. “
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Overall, Liverpool spent 265.2 million GBP for Frimpong, Ekitens, Wirtz, Kerkez and Georgia No. 1 Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The club also brought two other goalkeepers in the Hungarian boy Armin Pecsi and the former Preston North End No. 1 Freddie Woodman.
There is a chance that there could also be more arrivals, with Alexander Isak tries to force an Aufield parade.
Last month, Newcastle declined an offer of £ 110 million from Liverpool for The Swede, who has now told the club that he would not play for her again.
Who is Giovanni Leoni?
Despite his delicate age, the 18-year-old central defender was already one of the tallest players from Liverpool at about 6 “4”.
It is the same size as Virgil van Dijk and Rhys Williams and only two centimeters below their highest player, goalkeeper Mamardashvili.
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Before that, he played under the Italy legend Andrea Pirlo in Sampdoria before signing for Parma, and Pirlo has no doubt about his ability.
According to Leonis Parma debut, Pirlo said: “I am very happy for him.
“We are dealing with a fantastic boy and I was sure that he would make it into series A, he deserves it.”
While Leoni’s spell under him in March in March Pirlo said: “If someone had doubts about founding him from the first minute, I had no.
“I see him in training every day. He played as a mature teenager; he becomes a strong footballer.”
Leoni is a fan of Van Dijk and Smalling
Leoni, who had 17 appearances in Serie A last season, will enjoy the opportunity to play next to his football idol van Dijk.
The teenager also called the former Manchester United and the Roma defender Chris Smalling another inspiration for his playstyle.
“I am inspired by van Dijk and Smalling,” said Leoni when he spoke about his football influences in Padova during his time.
Why don’t Liverpool break against PSR?
Liverpool has never been so short to fail the profit and sustainability regulations of the Premier League, and the economical expenses in recent years have proven to be particularly advantageous this summer.
The last season was the first full campaign of the club with an extended end of Angield Road – a higher capacity for more than 61,000 fans and sales with a higher matchday.
Liverpool has also started her new lucrative kit deal with Adidas, which was more than her old partnership with Nike.
In addition to this careful approach, these factors now pay dividends such as financial expert Kieran Maguire.
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“Liverpool is in an incredibly strong position,” he said to talk sports.
“With regard to the money that comes in Anfield, you now have an extended stadium and the new tickets and the new places that are available for hospitality, and the earnings tend to go very high there.
“You have the new shirt deal that will enter Adidas on August 1, which will be a significant increase.
“You are incredibly popular with sponsors, and the sponsors have bonuses for you who won the Premier League, so all of these are positive in terms of money.
“If you look at the players who went … Trent [Alexander-Arnold] Left, he was on a very high wage [Jarell] Quansah has gone – that will be pure profit. So they are actually in a strong position.
“And then I have the characters in front of me in relation to the expenses and the entire old school ‘Big Six’, Liverpool took sixth place in the position [of net spend] Over the past three to four years.
“So you actually kept your powder dry relative to the other clubs.
“During this time you spent a billion pounds less than Chelsea.
“So they are actually able to spend now because they were pretty careful in the last windows.”