Having secured the deal for Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni, Liverpool’s next target in central defense will be Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi.
Negotiations over Leoni’s transfer are still progressing steadily, with talks between Parma and Liverpool nearing completion and an agreement expected soon. The transfer fee will be higher than the rumored €30 million from a few days ago, with the specific figure definitely exceeding that amount. It is confirmed that Leoni is set to join Liverpool, and the player himself has already given his nod of approval.
The deal will take effect immediately, and Leoni will not leave on loan. No one in Liverpool’s management has ever mentioned the idea of loaning him out for development. Both manager Arne Slot and Liverpool’s management are eager for Leoni to complete his move and adapt to the team immediately—this is Liverpool’s true intention.
For Slot himself, he played a significant role in advancing the signing of Leoni, as he is fully willing to trust young players. This is also why Leoni agreed to leave Serie A and join Liverpool. The two clubs are currently finalizing the last steps of the transaction process.
After finalizing Leoni, Liverpool will not halt their recruitment drive, as the club is still in talks with Crystal Palace over Guéhi’s transfer. It is confirmed that Liverpool has agreed to the player’s joining，but they are still waiting to reach an agreement with Crystal Palace. Negotiations over the transfer fee are around £30-35 million, while Crystal Palace is hoping for a higher figure.
Talks are ongoing between Crystal Palace and Liverpool to explore the possibility of a deal. Guéhi also faces a major decision: with his contract entering its final year, he has every right to stay for the last 12 months of his contract and leave as a free agent in 2026. If he does leave, Liverpool will be his preferred destination.
