Published: 3 hours ago

Liverpool rival Chelsea, Tottenham in Giovanni Leoni chase

Liverpool will reportedly compete with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to sign 18-year-old Italian defensive wonderkid Giovanni Leoni from Serie A club this summer.

According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Giovanni Leoni is the subject of interest from Liverpool. The Reds are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window. However, the Premier League champions face stiff competition from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur for the 18-year-old Parma defensive prodigy’s signature.

Who is Giovanni Leoni?

Giovanni Leoni has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining Parma Calcio from Sampdoria last summer. A native of Rome, the teenage sensation spent his formative years in Italy and graduated from the youth division at Calcio Padova.

However, the 18-year-old has risen in prominence after joining Parma, and he has turned out 17 times thus far for the Serie A club while chipping in with one goal. Meanwhile, Leoni’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing him, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

A man in demand

Chelsea will dip into the market for a centre-back in the summer transfer window. The Blues have decided to part ways with Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile in the summer transfer window. So, Chelsea will need a new central defender heading into the 2025/26 season, with Leoni emerging as a viable target.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s interest in Giovanni Leoni makes sense. The Reds have allowed Jarell Quansah to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer, while Ibrahima Konate has entered the final 12 months of his contract. In addition, Virgil van Dijk is on the wrong side of 30, while Joe Gomez faces an uncertain future at Anfield despite being happy at the Merseyside club. So, Leoni is an option worth considering for Liverpool.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, it is unclear why Leoni remains a target despite signing Kota Takai in the summer transfer window. Nevertheless, the Lilywhites are keen on signing the Parma prodigy, who has drawn comparisons to Dean Huijsen.

Interestingly, Huijsen was a target for Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham before he joined Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Newcastle United and Bournemouth are also keen on signing Leoni. So, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 18-year-old Italian defensive sensation as his stock continues to soar.

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