Liverpool are very near a full settlement for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni, talkSPORT understands.
The Italian defender’s transfer to Anfield could possibly be finalised inside the subsequent 24 hours.
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A deal within the area of £30million is being mentioned between Liverpool and the Serie A facet.
The Reds are eyeing a double defensive signing with each Leoni and Marc Guehi near becoming a member of the membership.
Exploratory talks have been held relating to the Crystal Palace captain.
Leoni is beneath contract with Parma in Serie A till 2029, however has caught the attention of Arne Slot.
The Dutch supervisor has made no secret of his want to amass a defender earlier than the window closes.
Previous to Sunday’s Group Defend defeat to Palace, he stated: “We now have greater than sufficient choices [in that area], but when we see an opportunity available in the market, we won’t hesitate to behave.”
In whole, Liverpool have spent an enormous £265.2m on Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The membership have additionally introduced in one other two goalkeepers in Hungarian teenager Armin Pecsi, and veteran shot-stopper Freddie Woodman.
There’s an opportunity there could possibly be extra affords after Guehi, too, with Alexander Isak attempting to pressure an Anfield transfer.
Newcastle rejected a £110m provide from Liverpool final month for the Swede, who has now informed the membership he will not play for them once more.
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Who’s Giovanni Leoni?
The 18-year-old centre-back would already turn into considered one of Liverpool’s tallest gamers regardless of his tender age at round 6’4′.
He is identical top as Virgil van Dijk and Rhys Williams, and simply two inches beneath their tallest participant, goalkeeper Mamardashvili.
He beforehand performed beneath Italy legend Andrea Pirlo at Sampdoria, earlier than signing for Parma, who has no doubts over his potential.
Following Leoni’s Parma debut, Pirlo stated: “I’m very glad for him.
“We’re coping with a unbelievable boy, and I used to be positive he would make it to Serie A. He deserves it.”
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Throughout Leoni’s spell beneath him final March, Pirlo defined: “If somebody had doubts about beginning him from the primary minute, I had none.
“I see him on daily basis in coaching. He performed as a mature teenager; he’ll turn into a powerful footballer.”
Leoni is a fan of Van Dijk and Smalling
Leoni, who made 17 appearances in Serie A final season, will relish the chance to play alongside his footballing idol, Van Dijk.
{The teenager} additionally named former Manchester United and Roma defender Chris Smalling as one other inspiration for his playstyle.
“I take inspiration from van Dijk and Smalling,” Leoni stated when discussing his footballing influences throughout his time at Padova.
Why are Liverpool not breaching PSR?
Liverpool have by no means been near failing the Premier League’s revenue and sustainability laws, and the frugal outlays in recent times have proved notably helpful this summer time.
Final season was the membership’s first full marketing campaign with an expanded Anfield Street Finish – thus the next capability at 61,000-plus followers, and higher matchday income.
Liverpool have additionally begun their new profitable package take care of Adidas, which has been valued greater than their previous partnership with Nike.
These components, alongside that cautious method to transfers, are paying dividends now, as per finance knowledgeable Kieran Maguire.
“Liverpool are in an extremely robust place,” he informed talkSPORT.
“Initially, by way of the cash coming in at Anfield, they now have an expanded stadium and the brand new tickets and the brand new seats which might be obtainable are going to the hospitality, to going to company followers and the yield there tends to be very excessive.
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“They have the brand new shirt deal, which is available in on August 1 with Adidas, that is going to be a considerable improve.
“They’re extremely standard with sponsors, and the sponsors could have paid bonuses for them profitable the Premier League, so all of these are positives by way of the cash coming in.
“If you happen to have a look at the gamers which have gone… Trent [Alexander-Arnold] has gone, he was on a really excessive wage, [Jarell] Quansah has gone – that will likely be pure revenue. So that they’re truly in a powerful place.
“After which I’ve acquired the figures in entrance of me by way of spending and all the old-school ‘massive six,’ Liverpool have been sixth within the place [of net spend] over the course of the final three to 4 years.
“So that they’ve truly been conserving their powder dry comparatively to the opposite golf equipment.
“They spent a billion kilos lower than Chelsea throughout that interval.
“So that they’re truly within the place to spend now as a result of they have been fairly cautious within the final couple of home windows.”
