Liverpool missed out on three 'elite' centre-backs before pulling the trigger on a €35 million (£30m/$40m) deal to sign Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

• Leoni signed by Reds 
• Liverpool have been hunting for elite, young centre-back
• Defender hunt finally over

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per The Times, Liverpool have long been on the hunt for an elite young centre-back to strengthen their squad. They had been interested in Leny Yoro before he joined Manchester United, as well as Levi Colwill at Chelsea and Dean Huijsen at Bournemouth, before he moved to Real Madrid. Colwill was not for sale, Yoro wanted assurances of first-team football that United offered and the Reds could not, and Huijsen wanted a move to Madrid instead of to Anfield. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, Leoni has signed a six-year deal at Anfield, with the Reds beating off competition from Inter Milan to secure the youngster's signature. Signed from Parma, he has just 17 first-team appearances under his belt, and was also of interest to Newcastle, but the Reds have laid out a pathway to the first-team for Leoni, swaying his decision. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leoni is an Italy youth international, playing for both the Under-18s and the Under-19s, and is now out to make a serious impression on Merseyside. 

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool play Bournemouth in their first game of the Premier League season on Friday evening. Leoni is likely to be on the bench. 

Tags: Futebol
Category: News