Liverpool set to complete £30m transfer deal for 'tough guy' ahead of Bournemouth clash

Liverpool host AFC Bournemouth in their opening Premier League game on Friday (Picture: Getty)

Premier League champions Liverpool are set to complete a £30m transfer deal for Italian ‘tough guy’ Giovanni Leoni, according to reports.

The 18-year-old Parma defender has been tipped to become a superstar for Italy’s national team, having already featured for his nation at U19 level.

Leoni has only made 17 appearances in Serie A – the top-flight of Italian football – but the teenage centre-back has bags of potential and ability.

He’s now set for a switch to England and his move to Liverpool could be finalised within the next 24 hours, talkSPORT reported on Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s Premier League opener against AFC Bournemouth.

It’s believed that Liverpool are still keen to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer despite Leoni’s expected arrival at Anfield.

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has made no secret of his desire to further improve his team’s defence before the window closes on September 1.

The Reds have already signed right-back Jeremie Frimpong and left-back Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and AFC Bournemouth respectively.

Giovanni Leoni has only made 17 appearances in Serie A (Picture: Getty)

‘Giovanni Leoni to Liverpool is a great move’

Legendary Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi is a huge fan of Leoni – who is 6ft 5in tall – and believes the ‘tough guy’ is the future of his country’s defence.

‘We’ll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I’d say the Reds would be making a great move by signing this young man, whom I followed with interest and curiosity in the second half of last season,’ Sacchi told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

‘I’m convinced he’ll be the lynchpin of the Azzurri defence for a long time.

Giovanni Leoni is an Italy U19 international (Picture: Getty)

‘Some, regarding a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Aren’t those few? No, I reply. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far.

‘If someone is good, if someone has their head in the right place, it’s immediately obvious. A person can have 200 Serie A games under their belts and still not possess the qualities Leoni displayed in his first season as an adult. Talent knows no age.

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‘Let’s also give him the opportunity to make mistakes. At eighteen, some mistakes are expected and can be forgiven. And in any case, Leoni won’t make many. He’s a tough guy who’s already learned the fundamental lesson, keep your head down and work hard.’

Andrea Pirlo hails Giovanni Leoni

Leoni previously played under Andrea Pirlo and the Italy legend, now a manager, also believes that the youngster is set for a massive future.

‘We are dealing with a fantastic boy,’ Pirlo said. ‘If someone had doubts about starting him from the first minute, I had none.

‘I [have seen] him every day in training. He played as a mature youngster – he will become a strong footballer.’

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