Liverpool sign Giovanni Leoni: Scouting report, tactical fit

After investing closely in dramatically revamping their assault, Liverpool have bolstered their defensive position with the £26 million signing of heart again Giovanni Leoni from Serie A aspect Parma. At simply 18 years of age, the Italy youth worldwide continues to be simply dipping his toes within the pool of top-level senior soccer, however the Reds have seen sufficient from 14 league begins to sanction a fast transfer.

Leoni started the 2024-25 marketing campaign on the bench, however by Christmas he’d gained a foothold within the first group. Then, over the course of the second half of the season, he helped agency up the protection and convert losses to attracts — sufficient of them to maintain the Crociati protected from relegation.

So together with his Premier League swap confirmed, how did Liverpool choose their goal and what’s going to Leoni deliver to the defending champions?

How Liverpool recognized and signed Leoni

For years, signing a promising younger central defender has ranked extremely on Liverpool’s listing of priorities. Final summer time, the Anfield membership was concerned with signing Lille‘s Leny Yoro earlier than he ultimately joined Manchester United. The Reds have been additionally admirers of Bournemouth‘s Dean Huijsen, who made a £50 million transfer to Real Madrid earlier this summer time.

In simply 17 Serie A appearances for Parma final time period, Leoni established himself as certainly one of Italian soccer’s most enjoyable younger skills, and he suits the profile the Premier League champions have been looking for. He’s understandably removed from the completed article, however Liverpool are assured the 6-foot-4 defender has all of the bodily attributes required to develop right into a world-class heart again, significantly with the chance to be taught from his idol, Virgil van Dijk.

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Having made his breakthrough for Parma below supervisor Cristian Chivu in the course of the second half of final season, there had been speak of Leoni following his coach to Inter Milan this summer time. Nonetheless, Liverpool — aided by sporting director Richard Hughes’ intensive contacts in Italy — have been in a position to transfer rapidly to get a deal over the road, with sources telling ESPN the participant was adamant on a switch to Anfield regardless of curiosity from a number of golf equipment in his house nation and elsewhere within the Premier League.

There had been some suggestion that Liverpool would possibly look to mortgage out Leoni this season, although this concept has rapidly been dismissed by the membership’s hierarchy. Regardless of Liverpool nonetheless pursuing a deal for England worldwide defender Marc Guéhi, Leoni is about to hitch Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez amongst supervisor Arne Slot’s first-team heart again choices for the upcoming marketing campaign. — Beth Lindop

What Leoni brings to Liverpool

Leoni’s sheer measurement and power belies his tender age. He’s nonetheless a teen, however he cuts a hulking determine on the pitch and his shoulders appear as in the event that they’re manufactured from metal. He clearly relishes bodily duels with equally highly effective forwards, too; in the course of the ultimate stretch of the season, he bodily dominated Juventus‘ Dusan Vlahovic en path to an important 1-0 win, and Leoni additionally stood up brilliantly to Romelu Lukaku in a 0-0 draw with Napoli, going so far as man-marking him for spells and actually following him across the pitch.

This capacity to deal with robust No. 9s is by far his standout trait. He is aggressive on the bottom and robust within the air — his 63% aerial win charge in Serie A final season was among the many finest — and he thrives defending the field, already exhibiting good consciousness for the place crosses and cutbacks would possibly land.

Leoni is flexible inside his place, in a position to play because the right- or left-sided heart again in a again 4, or anyplace throughout the road in a again three. When stationed on the heart of a three-man setup, he tends to step out, roam and discover somebody to duel.

There are teaching factors for Liverpool to deal with. His go choice final season tended to be extraordinarily protected, both enjoying it quick to the closest man, again to the goalkeeper, or chipping it upfield within the basic route of a ahead runner. That may have been a tactical instruction somewhat than a private shortcoming — Parma fought in opposition to relegation till the ultimate day, which means they have been actually in no place to decide to danger buildup play — however Slot will need to see extra thought of use of possession each time the ball is at Leoni’s ft.

Leoni additionally by no means carried the ball upfield and into house, opening up the pitch for himself and others. Once more, that might have been by design however on condition that he has joined an elite, ball-dominant group, it is value noting that he ranked within the 1st (i.e., lowest) percentile in Serie A for ball-carrying and simply the sixth percentile for progressive passing. — Sam Tighe

How Leoni will match at Liverpool

To have any probability of success as a middle again within the Premier League nowadays, you are most likely going to need to be massive and robust. Have a look at the bodily construct of the defensive corps that Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have assembled, for instance; Leoni clearly ticks that field. He will probably be well-suited to the titanic battle that now takes place at set items, irrespective of the opponent, and a very good match in terms of going through the inflow of actually bodily strikers we’re seeing within the Premier League.

Nonetheless, there is perhaps a small concern over the truth that whereas Leoni ought to develop into a strong participant, he lacks the kind of top-end pace and mobility lots of the finest heart backs possess. According to Gradient, his most pace topped out at 31.82 km/h final season, simply 54th amongst Serie A middle backs who performed 900 minutes or extra. For a Liverpool comparability, Van Dijk registered 33.79 km/h, and Konaté 33.57 km/h.

On condition that Liverpool’s fullbacks are more likely to function in a particularly attacking style, restoration pace and mobility traits within the group’s heart backs will probably be extra essential than ever. The truth that Leoni is hardly fast jumps off the tape, and the statistics verify it. He is not the quickest over 5 yards both and is not significantly clean altering route or decelerating.

The remainder of his sport could be simply finessed by teaching, enjoying with higher gamers and being in a extra expansive system. Take a participant out of a deadlocked relegation battle, and you will naturally see extra on-the-ball qualities come to the fore. From there, Slot ought to be capable to deduce precisely how lengthy Leoni will want earlier than he can positively impression the senior aspect. — Tighe