Premier League titleholders Liverpool have finalized an agreement to acquire Parma’s defender, Giovanni Leoni.
A deal was struck late on Wednesday evening, with the transfer fee for the 18-year-old defender set at £26m plus additional bonuses.
Leoni has now been granted permission to travel to Liverpool to negotiate personal terms and complete a medical, which is scheduled to start on Thursday.
Liverpool outmaneuvered top Italian clubs and other Premier League teams, with the player resolute in his decision to join Arne Slot’s squad.
Leoni will immediately integrate into the first-team setup for the current season, with any possibility of a loan move firmly dismissed.
Liverpool were seeking to bolster their centre-back position, as Ibrahima Konate is in the final year of his contract at Anfield.
The champions are also in discussions to sign Crystal Palace’s defender Marc Guehi and are the frontrunners to secure the England international.
Leoni will mark the sixth significant signing for Arne Slot’s Premier League champions this season, with their transfer spending reaching £321.5m in fees so far.
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