Liverpool finalizes agreement to recruit Parma's defender, Giovanni Leoni
Liverpool's head coach, Arne Slot, is actively seeking to strengthen his defensive line, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi being a potential addition. The Reds, however, are yet to agree on a transfer fee with Palace [1][2][3][4].
Currently, Liverpool's centre-back options are limited to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with Joe Gomez still recovering from injury and Jarell Quansah having been sold to Bayer Leverkusen.
The situation surrounding Guehi's potential move to Anfield is complex. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is reportedly willing to sell Guehi for around £40 million, but Liverpool are only prepared to pay up to £30 million without bonuses [1][2][3][4]. Palace has since lowered their asking price, and Parish is pushing Guehi towards Liverpool before the transfer window closes.
Despite this, Liverpool remain hopeful of striking a deal on their terms closer to the deadline, while Palace insists Guehi must stay unless he signs a new contract or a suitable offer arrives. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has expressed that Guehi "has to stay" amid ongoing Liverpool interest [1][2][3][4].
Meanwhile, Liverpool have agreed to sign Parma defender Giovanni Leoni for a reported fee of £26 million plus add-ons. Leoni is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday [1]. It remains unclear whether Leoni's arrival would affect Liverpool's pursuit of Guehi.
As the transfer window draws to a close, the future of Guehi at Crystal Palace remains uncertain, but active negotiations continue [1][2][3][4]. Guehi, who has a year left on his contract with Palace, is not currently a Liverpool player.
References:
[1] BBC Sport. (2025, August 26). Liverpool's Marc Guehi transfer: Crystal Palace lower asking price but Reds yet to agree fee. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62710136
[2] Sky Sports. (2025, August 26). Liverpool in talks to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12346707/liverpool-in-talks-to-sign-marc-guehi-from-crystal-palace
[3] The Guardian. (2025, August 26). Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi: what's the latest? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/26/liverpools-pursuit-of-crystal-palace-marc-guehi-whats-the-latest
[4] The Athletic. (2025, August 26). Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi: what's the latest? Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2808923/2025/08/26/liverpools-pursuit-of-crystal-palace-marc-guehi-whats-the-latest/
With Liverpool's defensive line lacking depth, there is ongoing speculation about the potential transfer of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, particularly as Palace has lowered their asking price. Despite negotiations, an agreement on a transfer fee remains elusive [1][2][3][4]. However, Liverpool's recent agreement to sign Parma defender Giovanni Leoni for a reported fee of £26 million plus add-ons could potentially impact their pursuit of Guehi.
