Liverpool ‘strongly considering’ £35m move in January – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool Face Defensive Crisis After Giovanni Leoni Injury Blow

Liverpool’s carefully structured squad planning has suffered a significant setback following the devastating injury to Giovanni Leoni. As reported by TeamTalk, the teenage defender suffered a serious ACL tear during his senior debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, an outcome that leaves Arne Slot with a pressing challenge in central defence.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on social media, writing: “Liverpool centre back Giovanni Leoni has torn his ACL and will be out for several months. After an excellent debut in the League Cup last night, with Arne Slot also very happy, an unlucky injury for Leoni, who will try to be back before the end of the season.”

At just 18 years old, Leoni had been identified as a long-term project, a £26m investment with high potential. His 6ft 5in frame and composed style made him one of the most exciting young arrivals in recent years, but his absence leaves Slot’s squad exposed.

Photo: IMAGO

Guehi Back on Radar for January

Liverpool had already shown strong interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi during the summer window, yet a deal did not materialise. According to TeamTalk, the Reds missed out on a £35m move before deadline day and were expected to return in the summer of 2026 when his contract situation might work in their favour.

However, Fraser Fletcher’s reporting suggests otherwise: “Sources have told TEAMtalk that suggestions that Liverpool will wait until Guehi’s contract expires in the summer of 2026, making him a free agent, may be misguided, as transfer chess pieces are already in motion.”

The combination of Liverpool’s defensive crisis and growing European competition for Guehi’s signature has shifted priorities. With Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly monitoring the player, waiting until next summer now appears too risky.

Slot’s Options Stretched Thin

With Leoni sidelined, Slot’s senior centre-back options are reduced to Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. The concern is that Gomez himself has a history of injury problems, leaving Liverpool one setback away from a genuine shortage at the back.

As TeamTalk emphasised, “Liverpool are now one injury away from lacking any sort of cover in the centre of their defence.” That stark reality highlights why the club view Guehi as more than a luxury signing. He is a necessity.

Strategic Approach to January

Liverpool’s recruitment team is renowned for patience and precision, but the Leoni development demands immediate action. TeamTalk reported that “Liverpool’s strategy could hinge on a calculated lowball offer in January. By presenting a modest bid, they might tempt Palace to accept less than their desired valuation rather than lose Guehi for free months later.”

Such a move would be consistent with the club’s model, protecting long-term stability while addressing urgent short-term needs. Guehi, at 24 years old, brings Premier League experience, leadership and physicality, making him an ideal fit for Slot’s system.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

The injury to Giovanni Leoni feels like a cruel twist of fate just as Liverpool fans were eager to see more of him in the first team. Slot has made a blistering start to life at Anfield, lifting the Premier League title last season and beginning the current campaign with five straight wins. Yet even in a squad flying high at the top of the table, the depth at centre-back now looks precarious.

Supporters will be encouraged that Guehi remains the primary target. He has the profile of a defender who could step straight into the Liverpool back line without disrupting the balance. His leadership qualities as Crystal Palace captain and his ability to play out from the back align perfectly with Slot’s philosophy.

Fans are realistic enough to know that Palace will not let him go cheaply. Still, Liverpool have the financial strength and competitive edge to push this deal through in January. Many will argue that if Real Madrid and Barcelona are circling, the club cannot afford to hesitate.

For all the heartbreak of Leoni’s injury, the positive spin is that his long-term future at Anfield remains intact. At just 18, he has time to recover, develop and eventually challenge for a regular role. In the meantime, Guehi could provide the reliability and quality needed to sustain a title defence. Supporters will hope that this transfer is accelerated so that Liverpool do not gamble their season on the fragile fitness of their current defensive trio.