Liverpool ECHO's resident renowned English Liverpool team correspondent Paul Gorst, reported on Wednesday that Parma's Italy U19s international defender wonderkid, Giovanni Leoni, is close to joining Liverpool.

According to Gorst, Liverpool has been interested in Leoni for a year, and their interest in signing him became more concerte after Jarell Quansah's summer departure.

Because Leoni can play in any defensive position bar goalkeeper, he is considered a potential successor to the injury-prone Joe Gomez.

The news of Leoni's imminent transfer to Liverpool was also confirmed by Sky Sports' renowned Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Romano stated that the Reds have agreed to pay Parma a £26 million transfer fee for Leoni, excluding a £4 million potential add-on fees. Parma will also receive a 20% sell-on clause on the player's future transfer.

Liverpool has also arranged for Leoni to visit the AXA Training Center for a medical and to complete his signing procedures.

Regarding online rumours  claiming that Liverpool might agree to loan Leoni back to Parma because he is reluctant to leave Italy, Romano refuted the rumours as groundless.

He added that Leoni has never ruled out a move to the Premier League.

This would only be possible if Parma required Leoni to return to the team on-loan first, a request the Reds have never received.

About Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni, 17, was born in Rome, Italy, on December 21, 2006. Standing at 1.95 meters tall, he primarily plays center back, but can also play at left or right back.

Leoni played for the youth academy of non-league club Vigontina as a child. He joined Cittadella's youth academy at the age of nine, then joined Padova's youth academy in 2019 and completed his Padova first-team debut by coming on a substitute in March 2023. At just 16 years old, he broke the record as the youngest debutant in Italian football that year.

On the of the 2024 winter transfer window deadline day, Leoni joined Sampdoria on-loan with an option to buy. His rights were later bought out for €1.5 million.

However, before he could prepare for the new season, Leoni was sold to Parma for €5 million in August of the same year.

Last season, Leoni made 17 appearances for the Serie A club in all competitions, scoring one goal.