Liverpool sign Giovanni Leoni: Scouting report, tactical fit

After dramatically, after investing heavily in creating its attack, Liverpool Has extended its defensive line with £ 26 million signature Center back Giyavani leone From Siri a Side PermaOnly at the age of 18 years, Italy Youth International is still sinking its toes in the top level senior football pool, but the Reds has seen enough from the 14 leagues that approve a quick step.

Leone started a 2024–25 campaign on the bench, but until Christmas he served one leg in the first team. Then, during the second half of the season, they helped strengthen defense and converted to draw damage – enough to keep them enough to keep them Crusiatiti Protected from charge.

So with him Premier League Switch confirmed, how did Liverpool choose their goal and what will be brought to Leone Defending Champion?

Liverpool identified and signed Lyoni

For years, signing a promising young central defender has given high space in Liverpool’s list of priorities. In the last summer, the Enfield Club was interested in signing Lily‘S Lenny yoro Before he eventually joined Manchester UnitedReds were also fans Bornemoth‘S Dean hijsenWhich made a step of £ 50 million real Madrid Before this summer.

In only 17 Seri A for Parma’s last term, Leoni established himself as one of the most exciting young talents of Italian football, and he fits the profile that is demanding a premiere league champion. He is far from the prepared article, but Liverpool is confident that the 6 -Foot -4 defender has all the physical properties necessary to develop in a world class center, especially with the opportunity to learn from his idol, Virgil van lamp,

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During the second half of last season, after making his success for Parma under the manager Christian Chivu, Leoni spoke after his coach. inter Milan This summer. However, Liverpool – Sporting Director Richard Hughes in Italy was able to move quickly to get a deal on the line – aided by comprehensive contacts, sources told ESPN that the player was adamant on transfer to Anifield despite the players in their home country and other places in the Premier League.

Some suggestions were made that Liverpool could see the loan to loan this season, although the idea was rejected quickly by the club’s hierarchy. Despite the liverpool, there are still a deal England International defender Mark GauhiLeone is ready to join the van dijak, Ibrahima Konte And Joe Gomez The manager for the upcoming campaign is among the first-team center back options of the Arne slot. – Beth Lindop

What brings to liverpool

Leone’s sheer shape and strength fulfills his soft age. He is still a teenager, but he bites a hawking figure on the pitch and his shoulders look as if they are made of steel. He clearly remembers the physical couple with equally powerful forward; During the last stretch of the season, he was physically dominated Juventus, Dususan Waahovic Route for a significant 1-0 win, and Leone also stood brilliantly Romalu Lukaku Draw with a 0-0 NapoliAs far as the mantra to make human beings and really chasing him around the pitch.

This ability to handle a strong number 9S is his standout characteristic so far. He is aggressive on the ground and is strong in the air – his 63% of his aerial win rates in Seri A were the best in the previous season – and he is already showing good awareness while defending the box where the cross and cutback can be land.

Leone is versatile within its position, capable of playing anywhere in a back four, or across the line in the back three as a right or left -sided center. When the three-man is deployed in the center of the setup, he goes to get out, walk and find someone for a duality.

There are coaching points to address Liverpool. His pass selection in the last season was extremely safe, either playing it less for the nearest man, came back to the goalkeeper, or teased it upwards in the normal direction of a front runner. This may be a strategic instruction rather than a personal deficiency – Parma fought against the charge till the last day, which means they were not really in a position to commit to the risk of playing -up – but the slot would like to use more of the views whenever the ball is on Leone’s feet whenever it is on Leone’s feet.

Leone never did the ball in updield and space, opening the pitch for himself and others. Again, it can be by design, but given that he has joined an elite, ball-dominant team, it is worth noting that he was ranked in 1 (ie, lowest) percentage in Sery A for ball-work and just 6th percent for progressive passing. – Sam Tighe

How to fit leone in Liverpool

These days there is any chance of success in the Premier League as a center, you are probably going to be big and strong. See the physical construction of the defensive duct Arsenal, Manchester City And Liverpool has gathered, for example; Leone clearly ticks that box. He would be well suited to the Titanic fight that now is in the set pieces, no matter the opponent, and a good fit when it actually comes to face the influx of physical strikers that we are looking in the premiere league.

However, there may be a small concern on the fact that while Leoni must develop as a powerful player, he has a lack of top-end speed and dynamics, which have many of the best centers back. MelodiousHis maximum speed was 31.82 km/h in the previous season, only 54th between Seri A Center Back, who played 900 minutes or more. For a liverpool comparison, van DIJK recorded 33.79 km/h, and konaté 33.57 km/h.

Given that Liverpool’s fullback is likely to work in an extremely attacker fashion, the speed of recovery and dynamics in the team’s back will be more important than before. The fact is that Leoni rarely jumps from the tape, and the figures confirm it. It is not the fastest either at a distance of 5 yards and is not particularly smooth changing direction or decalering.

The rest of their games can be easily cleared through coaching, playing with better players and more expanding system. Exclude a player out of a deadlock allegations, and you will naturally look forward to more on-the-ball properties. From there, the slot should be able to find out how long the Leone will need to affect the senior party positively. – Tiger