Giovanni Leoni 'rejects' two Premier League clubs who tried to hijack Liverpool transfer

Giovanni Leoni turned down two Premier League clubs ahead of opting to sign for Liverpool, it has been claimed.

It has been widely reported that Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Italy U19 international Leoni for around £26million.

The 18-year-old made 17 appearances for Parma in his debut Serie A campaign last term, starting 14 of those encounters.

Reds boss Arne Slot confirmed that a deal had been agreed with Parma, but refrained from providing more detail on the move.

"The clubs have agreed a deal but he has not signed for us yet,” Slot said. “The moment he does, I can go into more detail."

The Reds have been looking to bolster their backline upon the £35m departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen last month.

And according to the Times, Liverpool beat a spate of clubs across Europe to sign Leoni.

Indeed, the defender was reportedly a target for Inter and AC Milan, while the publication has claimed Manchester United and Newcastle United also showed late interest in the player.

Leoni will join Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as centre backs in the Liverpool first-team squad.

Leoni is set to sign for Liverpool from Parma (Getty)

Indeed, iconic former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has talked up the Italian teenager’s potential, writing in Gazzetta dello Sport: “I’m convinced he’ll be the linchpin of the Azzurri defence for a long time.

“Some, regarding a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Aren’t those few? No, I reply. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far.

“If someone is good, if someone has their head in the right place, it’s immediately obvious. A person can have 200 Serie A games under their belts and still not possess the qualities Leoni displayed in his first season as an adult. Talent knows no age.”