Liverpool have reached an agreement with Parma to sign 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni for an initial £26 million, according to people familiar with the negotiations. All documents have been completed, and the Italy youth international is expected on Merseyside on Thursday for a medical before signing a long-term contract. The Premier League champions have also held separate talks with Crystal Palace over England defender Marc Guehi, but those discussions have stalled amid a wide gap in valuation. Palace are now prepared to keep the 25-year-old until his contract expires next summer, despite signalling earlier in the window that they would sell for the right price. New head coach Arne Slot has prioritised defensive reinforcements after the summer sale of Jarell Quansah and injury concerns over Joe Gomez. Leoni, who made 17 Serie A appearances for Parma last season, is viewed as a long-term partner for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool begin their title defence against Bournemouth on Friday.