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Report: Serie A giants eyeing raid for Liverpool maestro who only joined the Reds last year
TL;DR
A Serie A club is reportedly interested in signing a Liverpool player who joined the team just last summer. The player in question is a young Italian defender named Giovanni Leoni, who was signed for Ā£26 million from Parma.
Report: Serie A giants eyeing raid for Liverpool maestro who only joined the Reds last year
According to reports from Italy, one Serie A club are eyeing a potential transfer swoop for a player who only joined Liverpool last summer.
On the opening day of the Premier League season, the Reds confirmed the signing of teenage Italian defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a reported fee of Ā£26m (The Times).
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He impressed on his senior debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton a few weeks later, but that appearance was cut short by a devastating ACL injury which has sidelined him ever since. Itās hoped that he might return to team training in the coming weeks, all going well.
The 19-year-oldās Liverpool career has yet to take off due to that cruel twist of fate, but heās already being linked with a rumoured return to his native Italy.
Inter reportedly eyeing summer swoop for Leoni
Corriere dello Sport have reported (via FC Inter News) that Inter Milan view him as a potential centre-back signing for the summer transfer window, and the Nerazzurri could possibly call upon one crucial trump card.
They are currently coached by Cristian Chivu, who gave Leoni his big breakthrough into the Parma first team last season and would reportedly love to reunite with him at the San Siro, even on loan.
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Liverpool highly unlikely to sanction an exit for Leoni this summer
In truth, it seems rather unlikely that Liverpool would be prepared to sanction an exit for the 19-year-old in the coming months, barring a significant change in circumstances.
Why would the Anfield hierarchy allow him to leave when they signed him last year and he hasnāt had a chance to prove himself due to his ACL injury? Also, even with Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes over the summer, the Reds arenāt exactly overflowing with centre-back depth right now.
As for Leoni, he would have no discernible reason to get out of the club whoāve continued to support him throughout his convalescence over the past seven months, and surely heāll be all the more determined to justify LFCās faith in him once heās cleared for a return to action.
The only way in which we could envisage the youngster potentially being loaned out is if all of our current centre-backs remain at Anfield for next season (Ibrahima Konateās future still hasnāt been resolved) and another senior option is brought in over the summer.
Even then, a temporary exit would only be sanctioned if Liverpool were satisfied that heād enjoy regular game-time at the club heād be joining. Otherwise, a loan move would be a waste of everyoneās time.
Hopefully Leoni isnāt far off making his long-awaited return and weāll finally get to see him shine on Merseyside in the 2026/27 campaign and beyond.
Q&A
Which Serie A club is interested in signing Giovanni Leoni from Liverpool?
The specific Serie A club interested in Giovanni Leoni has not been disclosed in the reports.
How much did Liverpool pay for Giovanni Leoni from Parma?
Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a reported fee of Ā£26 million.
When did Giovanni Leoni join Liverpool?
Giovanni Leoni joined Liverpool on the opening day of the Premier League season last summer.
What position does Giovanni Leoni play for Liverpool?
Giovanni Leoni plays as a defender for Liverpool.
