Liverpool are preparing for renewed pressure over Giovanni Leoni, with Standard Sport reporting that Juventus have identified the young defender as a serious alternative after difficulties pursuing other targets. It is an intriguing development, particularly given Leoni has barely had the chance to start his Liverpool career.

The 22-year-old centre-back arrived from Parma last summer in a £26m deal, but his progress was halted almost immediately after he ruptured his ACL on debut. As a result, he has made only one first-team appearance for Liverpool. There is encouragement, however, as he is “closing in on a return to play”, and reports indicate he could yet feature after the international break.

That context makes Juventus’ persistence all the more notable. According to the report, the Turin club are undertaking “a thorough squad rebuild after a string of subpar finishes in Serie A”. Their focus is on re-establishing “a strong Italian core”, echoing an era defined by Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. After Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and Chelsea’s Marco Palestra were judged out of reach because of “their profile and price tags”, attention has now shifted firmly towards Leoni.

What stands out here is the determination. Juventus “have already made multiple approaches to take him on loan” and “have not been deterred by repeated rejections”. They are expected to “continue to send scouts to monitor him every week”, a sign that this is not casual admiration but a sustained effort to position themselves if Liverpool’s stance softens.

For now, Liverpool are “not keen to let him go so soon”, which feels entirely logical. Leoni is only a year into a long-term contract, and after such a significant injury, the club will naturally want to assess him properly before entertaining any kind of departure, temporary or permanent.

Timing is everything in transfer situations like this. If Leoni returns strongly, Liverpool may view him as an asset worth integrating into the squad under Andoni Iraola. If his pathway remains crowded, interest from Juventus could become harder to ignore. Either way, Liverpool hold the leverage, and that matters.

From a Liverpool perspective, this report creates an awkward kind of uncertainty. On one hand, it is reassuring that Leoni is still rated so highly across Europe after such a long lay-off. Juventus do not keep pushing for players they do not believe can develop into top-level starters. The fact they have made “multiple approaches” and are still watching him every week says plenty.

On the other hand, it would feel far too soon to let this one drift. Liverpool committed £26m to sign him, and supporters have barely seen anything yet because of the injury. Selling or even loaning him now could look premature, especially if the coaching staff think he can still become an important option. There is also a wider concern around squad planning. If Liverpool lose a young centre-back with this level of ceiling before properly assessing him, fans will understandably question the long-term strategy.