Liverpool: 'No panic' ahead of January transfer window after Giovanni Leoni undergoes ACL surgery | OneFootball

The Italian is expected to miss most of the season, and the Reds are weighing up their options ahead of the transfer window

Under the knife: Giovanni Leoni

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Liverpool are considering a move for a centre-back in the January transfer window after Giovanni Leoni underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, according to reports.

The 18-year-old Leoni joined Liverpool from Parma this summer, but made a nightmare start to life on Merseyside, tearing his ACL on debut.

The Italian is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season as he recovers, though no official timeline has yet been provided for his return.

Liverpool are not yet panicking about their defensive options, though.

According to a report from talkSPORT, the club has no plans to dip back into the transfer market despite considering Leoni an ‘elite’ player.

However, conversations are ongoing as to whether they need to sign a replacement.

The club holds a longstanding interest in Marc Guehi and came close to signing the Crystal Palace defender on Deadline Day, but their original plan to sign him on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer still seems the preferred option.

He is out of contract come the end of the season, and has no intention to sign a new deal.

Liverpool are thought to be working to extend Ibrahima Konate’s deal.

Leoni has been joined on the physio’s table by goalkeeper Allison, who was withdrawn early from Liverpool’s defeat to Galatasaray with a hamstring issue.

Speaking ahead of visiting Chelsea on Saturday, Slot said of the shot-stopper: “Alisson is not part of the squad tomorrow and he is not going to travel to Brazil as well for the national team, so he will be out for Saturday.

"I will be surprised if he [Alisson] will be there for the first game after the international break.”