Liverpool looking to sign Italian centre-back

Parma could be forced to sell their brightest youth prospect as Liverpool's scouts have identified Giovanni Leoni as a potential transfer target before the transfer window slams shut. The Premier League winners are hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the Italian club to sign the 18-year-old who has already appeared 17 times in Serie A, scoring one goal.

Giovanni Leoni has quickly emerged as one of the hottest defensive prospects in Italian football, and Parma's under‑19 center‑back is drawing intense attention from top clubs including Liverpool, Juventus, Inter, Milan, and Tottenham. The 6 foot 5 defensive talent has a strong combination of exceptional physicality, strong aerial dominance, tactical awareness, and composure in possession has led one leading transfer analyst to call him the "new Fabio Cannavaro" and project him as a future Italian international starter.

Parma are willing to sell if a club can match the reported 30 million euro valuation, but are insisting on a cash only transfer, which could be a potential hurdle for Liverpool who have already spent more than £200 million on new players this transfer window.

Amid mounting interest from Premier League giants, Leoni is seen as a modern ball-playing center-back with rare athletic tools and tactical intelligence for his age.