Liverpool agrees to buy Leoni, a Parma potential.

On Thursday, Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, announced that the club has reached an agreement with Parma to sign 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

Reports indicate that the Premier League champions are set to pay £26 million ($35 million) for the promising player, who has only made 17 appearances in Serie A for Parma.

Having already invested £260 million in new players, including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, Liverpool aims to strengthen its squad following last season’s triumph, where they matched the record for the 20th English top-tier title.

However, Slot is left with only three centre-backs after Jarell Quansah's transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.

One of those, Joe Gomez, has been sidelined for most of pre-season due to injury, and there are uncertainties regarding Ibrahima Konate’s future, as he has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield.

"The teams have reached an agreement, but the player hasn’t formally signed yet. Once he does, I can provide more specifics," Slot stated in a press conference before Liverpool's season opener against Bournemouth on Friday.

Even with Leoni’s arrival, Liverpool may still seek additional centre-back options before the transfer window closes, with rumors linking them to Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

It has been since 1984 that Liverpool last won consecutive league titles, and Slot anticipates a tougher battle to defend their title considering the changes in the squad.

Alongside Leoni’s addition, players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Caoimhin Kelleher have left, while the club is still grieving the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident last month.

"The main challenge is the sheer number of teams capable of winning the league. Achieving it in this league is remarkable," Slot remarked.

"This year will be even more challenging than before," he continued.

"We’ve lost five to six players who played significant minutes last season and brought in four, so it’s natural that adaptation will take time."

The transfer fee for Wirtz moving from Leverkusen to England could escalate to a record-setting £116 million.

Nonetheless, Slot is confident that the German international has the right mindset to handle the challenges that come with such a price.

"When you watch him on the field, his creativity shines through. He is mentally tough and isn't fazed by the transfer fee or any external factors," Slot stated.

"Top players always manage to perform well within good teams. He’ll need to adapt to England, the league's intensity, and his teammates. So far, his transition has gone even smoother than we anticipated."