Giovanni Leoni is expected to be unveiled at Anfield tomorrow night. Welcome Leoni ❤️

Liverpool transfer patience has paid off in a big way as Marc Guehi interest continues

Liverpool are closing in on two centre-backs in the form of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and Parma

Giovanni Leoni posing at Mutti Training Center on August 27, 2024 in Collecchio, Italy(Image: Photo by Parma Calcio 1913/Parma Calcio 1913 via Getty Images)

To paraphrase the age-old saying about public transport in the capital: you wait all summer for a centre-back and then two come along at once. That’s likely how Liverpool feel just now having made progress on both Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and, more pertinently, Parma teenager Giovanni Leoni this week.

In the case of England international Guehi, the ECHO reported back in June that a late move might be in the offing once Palace had reduced the asking price for

Having turned down as many as four offers between £60-65m from Newcastle last year, the FA Cup holders entered the summer months in a somewhat bullish mood over Guehi and were determined not to lose him for a fee that was far below his level of talent.

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But as the window has edged closer to its September 1 deadline and Guehi made it clear a new deal was not on the cards – coupled with £40m target Ousmane Diomande so far remaining at Portuguese side Sporting – it has become apparent for Palace that a sale would be in their best interests.

That, perhaps, explains part of the reason why Palace chairman Steve Parish was fronting up in the Wembley mixed zone on Sunday after the FA Cup winners had beaten the Premier League holders in the Community Shield on penalties.

Oliver Glasner, according to reports from those closely connected to the club, would prefer to keep Guehi for the season ahead as they gear up for a first-ever campaign in the Europa Conference League.