Welcome back! Star on brink of massive Liverpool return | OneFootball

Liverpool are to welcome back a star right at the perfect moment. A massive win for Andoni Iraola.

There's no question that Liverpool are short right now. The Reds have lost players without replacing them, Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah the most notable.

Even Andy Robertson's replacement wasn't signed - Liverpool are simply bringing Kostas Tsimikas back into the fold for another season after his loan spell at AS Roma. There's half an argument that Koante has been 'replaced' as Jeremy Jacquet joined, but the latter's deal was confirmed back when Liverpool thought the former was staying.

It's hard to call him a replacement when that clearly wasn't the intention.

But Liverpool's centre-back situation is dreadful in general. They've had to count on teenagers across pre-season simply because they haven't had other options - Jacquet hasn't been fit to play, Joe Gomez picked up an injury in the first friendly, and Virgil van Dijk has only just returned after the World Cup.

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The squad needs numbers at centre-back then, and that brings about information on the other option at Anfield. Giovanni Leoni, signed in 2025, has only made one appearance for Liverpool but we shouldn't forget that he's viewed as one of the biggest talents at centre-back in world football.

Unfortunately, Leoni picked up a serious knee injury on his debut, robbing him of his season. Liverpool have been short at the back ever since and it's only now that the Italian may be back.

The Athletic reports that Leoni will return to the squad this month, and should be in full training by the time September rolls around. That's with a view to him actually playing again next month.

It would be a massive win for Andoni Iraola, who desperately needs centre-back options. Things have been so bad that his assistant, Tommy Elphick, had to step into the role for training just to make up numbers.

Leoni's return eases the problems enormously. Liverpool must ease him back into things, of course, but it appears the Italian will be playing regularly before long.