Leoni targeted by Liverpool as interest in young talent grows | OneFootball

Liverpool are the latest club to focus on Parma defender Giovanni Leoni, who has been given a €40m price tag amid Tottenham, Inter and Milan interest.

The centre-back is only 18 years old and has just 17 Serie A appearances under his belt, scoring one goal, but already made a big impression.

Considered one of the brightest young talents in Italian football, he has been linked with Inter and Milan throughout the summer.

They were unprepared to pay the €40m asking price set by Parma, needing first to make sales before raising those kinds of funds for a teenager.

Premier League clubs not put off by Leoni asking price

FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 13: Giovanni Leoni of Parma in action against Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Parma at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

That might not be an issue for Liverpool, who are fresh from winning the Premier League title and recognised during pre-season friendlies that their defence is in need of reinforcements.

According to The Times newspaper, Leoni is one of the young centre-backs that Liverpool are keeping tabs on, along with Crystal Palace player Marc Guehi.

He had already been associated with a potential swoop from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

A product of the Padova youth academy, Leoni moved to Sampdoria in February 2024 and then was sold to Parma a few months later for €4.8m plus add-ons and a 10 per cent cut of the future transfer fee.