Category Sports News

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma, Reds manager Arne Slot has revealed.

The centre-half has been a key target for Slot and is now set to move to Anfield in a deal worth in the region of £26m.

The Italy Under-19s international began his career at Padova and had a short spell at Sampdoria before joining Parma last summer.

He enjoyed a breakthrough Serie A campaign last season, making 17 appearances as Parma finished 16th, five points above the relegation zone.

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

The Reds boss refused to comment when asked about a potential move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

“He’s not our player. Unfortunately, he was the captain of the team who we lost to last Sunday. If you want to have any talks about him you should go to Palace and [manager Oliver] Glasner and ask him about it,” Slot said.

FA Cup winners Palace are believed to want £40m for their captain, who only has 12 months left on his contract, but Liverpool want to pay less than that.

Eagles chairman Steve Parish said earlier this week Guehi might be sold to avoid him moving on a free transfer next summer.

If the clubs do agree a deal, the level of playing time he would be afforded at Liverpool will be a crucial consideration for Guehi in a World Cup year.

The Reds have already spent about £270m this summer, though they have recouped about £170m through player sales.

They have also had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle, though sources have told BBC Sport the Swede remains determined to move to the Premier League champions.

Signing Leoni, Guehi and Isak would take Liverpool’s summer spending past £400m.

Leoni only made his senior debut in 2023, playing in the Italian third tier for Padova as a 16-year-old, but just two years later he is set for the Premier League.

After making his debut in March 2023, he told Padova’s club website he was “inspired” by Van Dijk and former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, who at the time was playing for Roma.

Liverpool have been looking for reinforcements in central defence since selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen last month, and although Guehi remains very much in their sights, Leoni would provide extra cover in an area where the Reds are potentially light – captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were their only fit senior central defenders for the Community Shield.

With Van Dijk now 34, Liverpool need to have an eye on future options, and 18-year-old Leoni not only ticks that box but also looks ready now, despite only establishing himself in Parma’s starting line-up in the second half of last season.

With just 14 top-flight starts under his belt, he has not played as much as fellow highly rated teenage centre-backs Pau Cubarsi, Mamadou Sarr or Dean Huijsen, but his stats are impressive. At 6ft 5in, he is exceptional in the air, ranking in the top 10% for aerial duels won in Serie A last season.

At Parma, the Italy U19 international played in the middle of the back three or as the right centre-back. As well as his aerial strength, he is also composed in possession, especially given his lack of experience.

Leoni is very strong in the air and he’s a technically gifted player as well. He can come out from defence and start building from the back, but he’s obviously at his most impactful in the air.

A couple of big clubs in Italy, including AC Milan and Inter Milan, were also after him, so I didn’t expect a bold move from a Premier League club so early, to be honest. But Liverpool put the money on the table – probably even a bit more than Parma were originally asking for.

Who wouldn’t fancy playing at Anfield? I think any player would be happy to join Liverpool – and, of course, the Premier League, which is the most entertaining and attractive league in the world right now.

I would have loved to see Giovanni join a big Italian club before moving abroad. But that’s football – the market is open. If a club like Liverpool comes in with 30m euros plus bonuses, it’s difficult to turn down such an offer.

It will be difficult for him to start regularly – he knows that – but I don’t think that’s a major problem at his age.

Having the opportunity to be part of such a strong squad and play alongside great players, especially someone like Van Dijk, is a huge opportunity.

Wrexham are close to signing Wales international Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich Town in a deal which could eventually be worth £10m.

While the initial fee is likely to be some way short of that figure, Broadhead’s arrival will shatter Wrexham’s current transfer record.

The versatile forward, 27, is in the final year of his contract at Portman Road.

Wrexham have broken their transfer record on numerous occasions since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took control of the club in 2021.

The current high mark is believed to be in excess of £3m, which Wrexham paid to sign midfielder Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest last month.

He will follow in the footsteps of fellow Wales internationals Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore in making the switch to the Stok Cae Ras.

Forwards Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie, defenders Conor Coady and Liberato Cacace and midfielders George Thomason and O’Brien have also moved to the north Wales side this summer.

Bangor-born Broadhead – who was in Wrexham’s academy as a boy – started his professional career with Everton but joined Ipswich permanently in 2023 following loan spells with Burton Albion, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

He made two first-team appearances for the Toffees but swiftly became a prominent figure at Ipswich, helping them secure successive promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Broadhead scored two goals in 18 top-flight appearances under Kieran McKenna last season.

He has netted twice in 14 senior outings for Wales, with his first goal coming on debut against Croatia in 2023.

Wrexham are close to signing Wales international Nathan Broadhead from Ipswich Town in a deal which could eventually be worth £10m.

While the initial fee is likely to be some way short of that figure, Broadhead’s arrival will shatter Wrexham’s current transfer record.

The versatile forward, 27, is in the final year of his contract at Portman Road.

Wrexham have broken their transfer record on numerous occasions since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took control of the club in 2021.

The current high mark is believed to be in excess of £3m, which Wrexham paid to sign midfielder Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest last month.

He will follow in the footsteps of fellow Wales internationals Danny Ward and Kieffer Moore in making the switch to the Stok Cae Ras.

Forwards Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie, defenders Conor Coady and Liberato Cacace and midfielders George Thomason and O’Brien have also moved to the north Wales side this summer.

Bangor-born Broadhead – who was in Wrexham’s academy as a boy – started his professional career with Everton but joined Ipswich permanently in 2023 following loan spells with Burton Albion, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

He made two first-team appearances for the Toffees but swiftly became a prominent figure at Ipswich, helping them secure successive promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Broadhead scored two goals in 18 top-flight appearances under Kieran McKenna last season.

He has netted twice in 14 senior outings for Wales, with his first goal coming on debut against Croatia in 2023.

A banner which read “Stop killing children – Stop killing civilians” was displayed by Uefa before the Super Cup final between Tottenham and Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

The sign was shown on the pitch in front of the players as they lined up before kick-off at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy.

Two refugee children from Gaza were involved in the medal ceremony.

European football’s governing body said they were a 12-year-old Palestinian girl called Tala and nine-year-old boy Mohamed, who have both relocated to Milan for medical treatment.

Nine children who are refugees in Italy from areas of conflict including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Ukraine took part in the pre-match display.

On Saturday, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah was critical of Uefa posting a tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid on social media which failed to refer to the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said Obeid, 41, who was known as the “Pele of Palestinian football”, was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip the previous day.

After Uefa paid tribute to Al-Obeid in a post on X, Salah responded “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”

On Tuesday, the Uefa Foundation for Children announced it had expanded its humanitarian efforts to help children in Gaza, partnering with three charities providing humanitarian aid.

According to Uefa’s own rules, political, ideological, and religious messages are prohibited in stadiums before, during or after matches.

Tala, who joined Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin for the medal ceremony after PSG beat Spurs on penalties, was described as a young girl “with fragile health”, who had been transferred to Milan to receive appropriate medical care, with equipment lacking in Gaza since the start of the war.

She was joined on the podium by Mohamed who lost both his parents during the war and was “severely injured following an air strike”.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The BBC Sport website will feature highlights of every Premier League match during the 2025-26 season.

These will be available on the BBC Sport app, website and iPlayer on Saturdays and Sundays – ordinarily from 8pm.

If there is an evening match, highlights from all matches that day will be available 30 minutes after the final game of the day finishes.

On television, Match of the Day enters a new era with a new presenting team.

Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, and Mark Chapman will front Match of the Day’s Saturday and Sunday programmes (now unified under one name) on rotation, as well as Match of the Day: Champions League.

Fan favourites and returning stars forming the guest line-up include Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Williams, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Ellen White, Joe Hart, Martin Keown, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Stephen Warnock, Steph Houghton and Theo Walcott.

Champions League highlights will continue to be available on BBC Sport from 10pm on a Wednesday.

For the FA Cup, BBC Sport will continue to provide highlights and digital clips from every stage of the competition across the BBC Sport website, app and social media.

There will be digital highlights for every Women’s Super League match, as well as 21 live matches on the BBC.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits.

We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page says the pressure and expectation that comes with fighting in the UFC is unlike anything else he has ever felt in his career.

London’s Page – nicknamed MVP – signed with the UFC in 2023 after nine years with Bellator, where he built a reputation as one of the promotion’s most dangerous and exciting fighters.

The 38-year-old won 16 of 18 fights in Bellator with a number of highlight-reel knockouts.

Despite triumphing in two of his three bouts since joining the UFC, Page says the move has “carried a weight”.

“Usually I go in there and I’m comfortable to fight but I’ve realised UFC carries a massive weight because of its reputation, its history and the credibility you carry from winning these fights,” said Page.

“It’s the biggest weight I’ve felt from any organisation.”

Since Bellator was acquired by the PFL in 2023, Page is one of a number of fighters who left to continue their careers in the UFC.

Former Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull has looked unconvincing, recording one win and one defeat.

Ex-Bellator bantamweight title holder Patchy Mix, meanwhile, was outclassed by Mario Bautista on his UFC debut in June.

In the co-main event at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, Britain’s Lerone Murphy faces Aaron Pico – another former Bellator fighter – in a featherweight contest.

Page, who faces American middleweight Jared Cannonier on the undercard, says he empathises with the former Bellator athletes who have struggled.

“I’m starting to see it more and more that the Bellator fighters are not performing the way I know they can,” said Page.

“Pitbull has had a couple of fights and he hasn’t looked like the Pitbull I’ve seen in Bellator – he was unbelievable.

The fight with 41-year-old Cannonier represents Page’s second successive bout at middleweight after he ended Magomedov’s undefeated reign in February.

After spending the majority of his 13-year career at welterweight, Page says he has chosen to move up because he was struggling to secure fights in the lower weight class.

“Nobody at welterweight seems to like action – it’s a slow division,” said Page.

“I think there’s a lot of people in the latter stage of their careers, so for them every fight means something a bit more.

“They don’t want to take a risky fight, and I feel I represent a lot of risk because of the style I bring.”

Page’s only title fight during his career was against American Logan Storley for the interim welterweight belt in 2022, where he suffered a split decision defeat.

Page says competing in fights that “turn heads” is his main goal during the twilight of his career, but he has not given up on becoming a world champion.

The middleweight belt will be on the line in the main event at Chicago’s United Centre as South African champion Dricus du Plessis faces Russia’s Khamzat Chimaev.

“With someone so experienced and dangerous, I can’t look past Jared,” said Cannonier.

“But my goal is to get a title fight in my last run. For me I feel like this is my last lap in MMA, and I want to retire from MMA before MMA retires me,” said Page.