Liverpool Poised to Sign Promising Italian Defender in €35M Deal

According to reports, Liverpool are very close to securing a deal with Parma for the highly-rated 18-year-old Italian defender Giovanni Leoni. Parma had been holding out for a €40M valuation, but it appears Liverpool are set to land the young talent for around €35M.

Leoni, who made 17 appearances in Serie A last season, had been on the radar of several top Italian clubs, including Milan and Inter. However, it seems Liverpool have managed to beat out the competition and are poised to bring the promising center-back to the Premier League.

Legendary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi, writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, has provided an in-depth assessment of Leoni's abilities. Sacchi describes the young defender as a "modern, strong and gritty" player who excels at man-marking and duels. The coach was particularly impressed by Leoni's performance against the powerful striker Romelu Lukaku, where he was able to nullify the threat.

While Sacchi is happy to see an Italian player receive recognition from a top club like Liverpool, he admits he would have preferred to see Leoni join one of Italy's elite teams, such as Inter, Milan, Juventus, or Napoli. Nonetheless, the coach believes Leoni has the potential to adapt to the Premier League and the Champions League, provided he is given time to learn and develop.