Liverpool suffered a major setback after Giovanni Leoni sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury during their 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton at Anfield.
The young defender is now expected to spend several months on the sidelines, with the injury described as “devastating.” Following the news, Florian Wirtz sent a supportive message to Leoni, while teammates such as Alexander Isak also offered their encouragement.
Leoni’s absence leaves Joe Gomez as the only experienced backup option to partner Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate in central defence. This has sparked significant concern within the club and prompted manager Arne Slot to step up efforts in the transfer market. Reports suggest Liverpool could move to sign not just one but potentially two centre-backs to strengthen their defensive depth.
Liverpool Revisit Marc Guehi Interest
One of the top names on Liverpool’s list is Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The Reds had explored a permanent deal for Guehi during the summer transfer window, but negotiations fell through on deadline day.
Initially, Liverpool planned to wait and pursue Guehi on a free transfer when his contract expires. However, according to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Leoni’s injury may force Liverpool to act sooner.
“It’s a massive blow losing Leoni — it could rule him out for the rest of the season,” it was reported. “Liverpool had already considered signing Guehi in the summer, even after Leoni arrived, but they decided to hold off. Now, with this injury crisis, they might return to the negotiating table and see if Palace are willing to lower their asking price.”
Crystal Palace had demanded around £35 million for Guehi in the summer, but financial pressures could see that figure drop if they decide to cash in on their star defender mid-season.
Growing Competition for Guehi’s Signature
Liverpool are not alone in their pursuit of Guehi. His contract situation has drawn interest from several European giants, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.
According to a report from 22 September, both Barcelona and Bayern are prepared to compete for Guehi on a free transfer next summer. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are reportedly willing to offer a substantial signing-on bonus to persuade him to choose Spain over England.
Guehi, who has been praised by his England teammate Ezri Konsa as a “world-class” defender, remains one of the most highly-rated centre-backs in the Premier League.
If Liverpool decide to make a move in January, they will face stiff competition from clubs ready to secure pre-contract agreements, making negotiations even more challenging.
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