While the majority of Liverpool's transfer business this summer has been about retooling the attack, they could now be pivoting to addressing needs at the back as well.
Current reports have the Reds eyeing up a move for one of the brightest young defenders in Italian football. They'll have to go head-to-head with some Serie A heavyweights if they are serious in their pursuit.
Giovanni Leoni took Italy by storm last season while playing for Parma and now is poised for a major move in his career.
Who is Giovanni Leoni?
Leoni, just 18, is one of the brightest young talents currently going in Italy and he is the exact sort of player profile that Liverpool would be interested in.
His youth and extremely high ceiling make him a very attractive prospect for the best clubs around Europe so it is not a shock that he is being targeted by the likes of Liverpool, Inter Milan and Juventus.
He made 17 Serie A appearances this past season while at Parma and he showed enough skills and maturity that he appears ready for more.
He brings great size already as he stands over six feet two inches. He uses this to his advantage to be very good in the air. If you look at Virgil van Dijk Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and now Hugo Ekitike, height is becoming a theme at Anfield.
He is strong on the ball and trusts himself to play out of tight situations at the back which could be a nice long-term fit in Arne Slot's system.
He already reads the game very well and would only get better learning from VVD and others at Liverpool.
The Potential Deal
Leoni's current club, Parma, have set a €35 million price tag on their defensive starlet, but this fee has seemingly not deterred Liverpool or others.
Inter are seen as favorites as they hired Parma's manager from last season in Christian Chivu, but they need to sell in order to fund this move. Leoni is reportedly becoming impatient.
Other English clubs such as West Ham, Tottenham and Newcastle have all been credited with an interest in the youngster, but it is the Reds that are the standout option away from Italy. With so many clubs circling, it will be interesting to see if any of the make a firm move.
The price isn't the best value for a still raw teenager, but his growth potential is next level and he could be the fulcrum of the next iteration of defenders at Liverpool.
If Richard Hughes and Arne Slot think he will grow quickly under their tutelage, they could move swiftly and steal him right out of Inter Milan's hands.