Liverpool Could be About to Sign Their Virgil van Dijk Successor – Opinion | OneFootball

Giovanni Leoni Could Be the Successor to Virgil van Dijk

As Liverpool continues to reshape its squad in the image of Arne Slot and under the steady hand of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, defensive planning has become a key thread in its long-term vision. With the 2025/26 season just about to kick off, one emerging name has caught attention not only for his current ability but also for his staggering potential: Giovanni Leoni.

The 6’5” right-footed centre-back from Serie A side Parma has been under watch for several months, and fresh reports suggest Liverpool may be ready to accelerate plans for his acquisition, especially after the lingering issue surrounding Joe Gomez. At just 18 years old, Leoni is already showing the kind of poise, intelligence, and physical dominance that fits the mould of a modern elite centre-back — and Liverpool, perhaps more than any other club, know the value of planning a generation in defence.

A Rare Profile for a Rare Role

Finding a right-footed central defender who combines aerial authority, composure in possession, and positional maturity is an admirable feat, one which has been largely dominated by VVD this past decade. At Parma, Leoni has already emerged as a standout performer in Italy’s top flight — even amid a developing team and difficult league. His anticipation and timing in duels are exceptional for a player of his age, and his comfort stepping into midfield with the ball at his feet has drawn inevitable comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, who is now 34 years old.

While comparisons to Liverpool’s legendary No. 4 are often lazy, in Leoni’s case, there’s genuine substance. Much like Van Dijk in his early days at Celtic, Leoni possesses an elegant reading of the game that belies his youth and relative inexperience. He doesn’t dive into tackles, rarely looks rushed, and uses his long stride and physical presence to make defending look effortless. He ticks boxes aplenty and will be a keen target for Liverpool’s recruitment division.

Short-Term Needs Require Guéhi, But Leoni Is for the Future

Liverpool’s interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is still very much alive, and rightly so. With Ibrahima Konaté having ongoing contractual talks and Joe Gomez again dealing with setbacks, there is an urgent need to bolster the senior centre-back group and safeguard a delicate rearguard. Guéhi offers a Premier League-proven solution — calm under pressure, tactically disciplined, and capable of playing either side in a back four. His leadership would immediately offer Arne Slot organisational skills and command those around him.

But crucially, Guéhi would come in as an immediate rotational piece, capable of starting regularly from day one. His acquisition wouldn’t block the development pathway of a player like Leoni, who would likely begin his Liverpool tenure as a developmental option behind the core four.

In that sense, the double acquisition of Guéhi and Leoni isn’t excessive — it’s strategic and close to necessity. Liverpool is simultaneously building for the present and the next cycle. If Edwards and Hughes pull this off, they’ll have safeguarded a future spine while ensuring Slot can continue competing at the highest level now.

A Quiet Revolution in Defence Taking Shape

Van Dijk’s renewal was a vote of confidence in Liverpool’s vision — but also a reminder that succession planning is critical. At 34, he cannot be expected to start 45 matches per season any longer. The days of relying on a trio of Van Dijk, Gomez, and Konaté are over. Edwards and Hughes have seen this before — the defensive crisis of 2020/21 was enough of a lesson.

In Giovanni Leoni, Liverpool would be signing not just a player, but a long-term structural pillar that could be moulded to suit on the left-hand side of the defence if required. Someone who can learn directly from one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history, while offering attributes that align perfectly with the evolution of Arne Slot’s tactical ideas.

The future at Anfield may be unfolding quietly, but it is unfolding intelligently. If Leoni joins Guéhi as the next wave of defensive investment, Liverpool won’t just be planning to win again. They’ll be planning to win for a decade.