Arne Slot’s team have splurged over £300million to bring in Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman. Their £120m offer for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak was turned down, but the standoff shows no sign of ending.
Isak remains determined to secure his dream move to Anfield, refusing to feature for the Magpies. However, Liverpool’s focus has shifted, with two defensive reinforcements now taking priority over the Swedish forward.
Slot and Virgil van Dijk both pinpointed defence as the squad’s weakest link following the Community Shield penalty shootout loss to Crystal Palace. The Reds have acted quickly to address those concerns. Here is the latest transfer update.
Liverpool are pushing ahead with a move for Parma’s Giovanni Leoni and could finalise the deal within 24 hours, per talkSPORT. Mirror Football claimed on Tuesday that Leoni and Palace skipper Marc Guehi were on the Reds’ radar. Negotiations have advanced rapidly, with the Italian centre-back set to sign for about £30million.
The 18-year-old, under contract at Parma until June 2029, is eager to join Liverpool. Arrigo Sacchi has given glowing praise to the teenager’s potential.
“We’ll see if it happens, but Liverpool would be making a fine signing. I followed him closely in the second half of last season,” Sacchi wrote in Gazzetta Dello Sport. “I believe he will be the backbone of Italy’s defence for many years.”
The Reds have also entered talks with Crystal Palace for Guehi after facing him in the Community Shield. The England international’s contract ends next summer, leaving Palace with a dilemma.
Still, the Guardian notes manager Oliver Glasner wants Guehi to stay another year, even if it means losing him for free. Liverpool are bidding between £30m and £35m, but Guehi is content to remain unless Palace’s £40m price tag is met.
Liverpool’s summer began amid claims of Ibrahima Konate’s discontent after being offered a new deal. Reports suggested he felt undervalued compared to other squad members.
Although regularly linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool have denied speculation over his exit. They have already sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen and Nat Phillips to West Brom, leaving Joe Gomez as the senior backup to Konate and Van Dijk, though Gomez is currently sidelined.
Despite moving for Leoni and Guehi, Liverpool still want to keep Konate, viewing him as vital to their Premier League title defence hopes.
