Liverpool Set to Battle Newcastle United in the Race to Sign £30m Defender – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool Join Race for Italian Wonderkid as Leoni Grows Restless

Liverpool have reportedly entered the frame for Parma’s teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni, with a host of European clubs also monitoring the situation. The 18-year-old, one of Serie B’s standout young defenders last season, is now the subject of growing Premier League interest, with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and now West Ham United joining the chase.

As first reported by Sport Witness, who have relayed details from Corriere dello Sport, Inter Milan remain Leoni’s preferred destination. However, delays in their summer transfer plans have created uncertainty around his immediate future.

Italian Stalemate Gives English Clubs Hope

Inter Milan are currently prioritising a deal for Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and need to complete sales before finalising a move for Leoni. According to Corriere dello Sport, Inter have “reserved” the player, but the situation is far from resolved.

“Leoni is getting impatient,” the article notes, and with interest mounting from several Premier League sides and Juventus, that frustration could trigger a decisive move elsewhere.

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Parma, meanwhile, are said to value the player at €35 million. This price tag is not unreasonable in the current market, especially for a defender of Leoni’s potential and age. The same report suggests the “idea of a sale to other clubs is put forward quite strongly, especially if Inter take too much time,” highlighting just how vulnerable the Nerazzurri’s position has become.

West Ham Move Could Complicate Matters

Interestingly, West Ham have now entered the frame, and their involvement could shift dynamics. David Moyes’ side, who are in the middle of a defensive rebuild, are understood to be in the market for a young centre-back to complement their current roster.

Leoni’s development at Parma has caught the eye of several scouts, and his ability to step into senior football with maturity beyond his years makes him an ideal project for a forward-looking club. With Tottenham and Newcastle also circling, there is now real pressure on Inter to act swiftly or risk losing out altogether.

Genuine Interest or Strategic Pressure?

It remains to be seen whether the Premier League clubs are truly ready to commit €35 million for a player with no top-flight experience, or whether their names are being used to create leverage for Inter. As Sport Witness points out, “There’s every chance West Ham and the other clubs are simply being used as names to pressure Inter Milan to hurry.”

That said, Liverpool’s name surfacing in the conversation will certainly alert fans. With Arne Slot now overseeing a rejuvenated Liverpool side following a title-winning debut campaign, there is reason to believe the club may genuinely consider investing in long-term defensive talent.

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For Liverpool fans, this feels like another smartly timed link. Even if the club do not end up pushing for Giovanni Leoni, the fact that Liverpool are monitoring emerging continental talent aligns with their recent transfer strategies. It is also worth noting that after securing the Premier League title under Arne Slot last season, the Reds have earned the right to think long-term and invest in high-upside players.

Leoni would not be expected to step in as a first-team starter right away, but as part of a future succession plan, this move makes sense. With Virgil van Dijk entering the twilight of his career and Jarell Quansah having already departed, Leoni could be moulded under Slot’s guidance for the years ahead.

Another element worth considering is how Liverpool handle transfers in a post-Jota landscape. The squad has already endured an emotional summer, and some supporters might see an emerging, promising talent as a positive statement of forward momentum.

Still, whether this rumour has legs or is merely part of the usual agent-influenced summer swirl remains to be seen. But if Liverpool are indeed serious, €35 million for a player of Leoni’s profile might not seem outrageous in a few years’ time.