Slot’s new signing is already on his way out of Anfield – A transfer to forget for Liverpool?

Liverpool arrive at a make-or-break moment in their 2025/26 season, grappling with European disappointment even as they stay in the hunt for the Premier League. The Reds ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 2-0 victory over Fulham on 11 April, a match sparked by 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever Premier League scorer at Anfield before Mohamed Salah doubled the lead.

That result brought Arne Slot some breathing room, though the relief proved short-lived. Three days later, Ousmane Dembélé scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain sent Liverpool crashing out of the Champions League, winning 4-0 on aggregate. The season, in many ways, reflects the same old story of a squad stretched too thin by injuries, and few absences have been more costly than that of a teenager whose debut campaign was over almost before it started.

Inter Milan are interested as Leoni’s Liverpool chapter stalls before it begins

Liverpool paid around €30 million to sign Giovanni Leoni permanently from Parma last summer, with the 19-year-old committing to Anfield on a contract running until 2031. Inter Milan had previously agreed personal terms with Leoni before Liverpool moved swiftly to hijack the deal, as Sport Witness reported at the time.

Since then, Leoni hasn’t managed a single Premier League appearance, with a serious knee injury ruling him out almost immediately after his debut. In his solitary League Cup appearance last season, he conceded one goal across 81 minutes, while averaging 1.11 tackles, 3.33 interceptions, and 6.67 clearances per 90 minutes, defensive numbers that showed plenty of promise before injury intervened.

Now, Inter Milan have renewed their interest and reached out to Leoni directly. They are currently planning one of the most significant defensive overhauls in recent history, with Acerbi, De Vrij, and Darmian all set to leave on free transfers this summer.

According to L’Interista, as relayed by Sport Witness, Inter are exploring whether Liverpool would consider a loan with an option to buy. The club’s Oaktree ownership is expected to hold discussions with Inter’s recruitment team to assess what a deal might look like.

Cristian Chivu, who coached Leoni at Parma and is a huge admirer of the player, is a driving force behind the move, though Inter won’t want Liverpool to profit excessively from a player they essentially developed.

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Does sending Leoni away actually serve Liverpool’s long-term interests?

Liverpool face a tricky situation here, and it runs deeper than pure sentiment. Liverpool signed Leoni as a long-term investment in elite potential, not as a short-term gamble; the young centre-back simply hasn’t had the chance to find his feet or prove himself at Anfield. Sending him out on loan to the very club Liverpool beat to his signature just twelve months ago carries a quiet irony, and it calls into question whether the Reds truly trust their own recruitment.

A loan with an obligation to buy benefits Inter’s balance sheet far more than Liverpool’s, and Slot, assuming he remains in charge, deserves the chance to work with a player the club invested so heavily in. At the same time, a teenager coming back from an ACL injury needs competitive minutes, rhythm, and a manager who really believes in him.

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If Liverpool cannot guarantee Leoni that environment in 2026/27, then a temporary return to Serie A might be the best way to protect the investment rather than undermine it. Liverpool must resist any structure that gives up long-term control of a player who, on the little evidence available, already looks like exactly the kind of defender Anfield needs for years to come.