Cliftonville and Northern Ireland ace hit with huge 16-match ban for alleged referee ‘assault'
The Reds have launched an immediate appeal against the marathon suspension on the Northern Ireland international as it would not only effectively end her 2025 season but also hit the Reds hard as they fight to keep hold of the Women's Premiership title.
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Daily Mirror
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool's plan for Giovanni Leoni as Reds to beat two Premier League rivals to teen star
Liverpool are set to secure another transfer in the coming days as they near a full agreement for Parma's teenage star Giovanni Leoni to add to Arne Slot's first team squad Liverpool are set to land Parma defender Giovanni Leoni for an initial £26m. The Reds are closing in on a full agreement with the Serie A side for the centre-back. Leoni, 18, is ready to jet to England to complete a medical once the final terms are agreed in the next 24 hours. Liverpool have beaten Inter Milan and AC Milan to his signature. Parma were keen for the player to spend this season on loan with them but the Reds are ready to put him into their first-team squad. Leoni will join be part of the squad alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, who has returned to training this week. Liverpool are also trying to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and are continuing talks with their Premier League counterparts for a deal of around £35m. Leoni replaces Jarell Quansah, who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £30m earlier in the window. Leoni broke into Parma starting line-up in the second half of last season and made 17 appearances. He can play in the middle of a back three or on the right side of a two. Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes remains in talks with Parma chief executive, Federico Cherubini but the main parts of the deal are agreed. Liverpool missed out on young centre-backs in the last couple of window after failed attempts to land Levi Colwill, Leny Yoro and Dean Huijsen. Colwill stayed with Chelsea while Yoro preferred Manchester United when he left Lille and Huijsen picked Real Madrid this summer. The deal does not make any difference to Liverpool's pursuit of Guehi with talks to continue through this week. Guehi, 25, has just one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park and wants to make the move to Anfield. Liverpool want to do a deal this summer but could take him for free in 12 months. Palace chairman Steve Parish does not want to let Guehi go for free but also wants over £40m for him with negotiations to continue. Palace turned down a £70m bid from Newcastle in January and went on to win the FA Cup. They have been demoted to the Conference League but they are still set for a big season and would want to replace Guehi if he departs so want to command as high a fee as possible. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Liverpool set to complete £30m transfer deal for 'tough guy'
Premier League champions Liverpool are set to complete a £30m transfer deal for Italian 'tough guy' Giovanni Leoni, according to reports. The 18-year-old Parma defender has been tipped to become a superstar for Italy's national team, having already featured for his nation at U19 level. Leoni has only made 17 appearances in Serie A – the top-flight of Italian football – but the teenage centre-back has bags of potential and ability. He's now set for a switch to England and his move to Liverpool could be finalised within the next 24 hours, talkSPORT reported on Wednesday, ahead of Friday's Premier League opener against AFC Bournemouth. It's believed that Liverpool are still keen to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer despite Leoni's expected arrival at Anfield. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it's an open goal. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has made no secret of his desire to further improve his team's defence before the window closes on September 1. The Reds have already signed right-back Jeremie Frimpong and left-back Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and AFC Bournemouth respectively. Legendary Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi is a huge fan of Leoni – who is 6ft 5in tall – and believes the 'tough guy' is the future of his country's defence. 'We'll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I'd say the Reds would be making a great move by signing this young man, whom I followed with interest and curiosity in the second half of last season,' Sacchi told La Gazzetta Dello Sport. 'I'm convinced he'll be the lynchpin of the Azzurri defence for a long time. 'Some, regarding a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Aren't those few? No, I reply. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far. 'If someone is good, if someone has their head in the right place, it's immediately obvious. A person can have 200 Serie A games under their belts and still not possess the qualities Leoni displayed in his first season as an adult. Talent knows no age. More Trending 'Let's also give him the opportunity to make mistakes. At eighteen, some mistakes are expected and can be forgiven. And in any case, Leoni won't make many. He's a tough guy who's already learned the fundamental lesson, keep your head down and work hard.' Leoni previously played under Andrea Pirlo and the Italy legend, now a manager, also believes that the youngster is set for a massive future. 'We are dealing with a fantastic boy,' Pirlo said. 'If someone had doubts about starting him from the first minute, I had none. 'I [have seen] him every day in training. He played as a mature youngster – he will become a strong footballer.' MORE: Paul Merson fears Liverpool have a 'major problem' ahead of Premier League title defence MORE: Ally McCoist praises Chelsea for completing 'bargain' transfer signing MORE: How Manchester United scuppered Barcelona's transfer plans with £74m signing
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool transfers: £35m deal approved by legendary manager - 'I'm convinced'
Liverpool are still busy in the transfer market and could add two new defenders to Arne Slot's squad before the month is over with a legendary figure in football approving one deal Iconic Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi has given his seal of approval to Liverpool's move for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni. The 79-year-old has tipped the teenage star to continue his rise if he completes a transfer to Anfield and tipped him to become the future of their national team. Mirror Football reported on Tuesday that the Reds want to sign Leoni and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi to bolster their defence. The 18-year-old is expected to cost around £35million despite being a newcomer to first team foootball. Liverpool have targeted a young defender in recent times as they attempt to have a smooth succession in their backline with the likes of Virgil van Dijk already in his thirties. Lenny Yoro, Jorrel Hato and Dean Huijsen have all previously been linked to the club. Towering defender Leoni now looks set to be that figure and is highly regarded by one of the most lauded managers in footbal history in Sacchi. And the veteran coach provided an overwhelming enforsement of the player's talents. Sacchi, who is frustrated to not see a top Italian side make a move for Leoni, believes that the young defender will be a success for Liverpool and Italy. The legendary AC Milan boss is unconcerned by the youngster's lack of first team football. "We'll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I'd say the Reds would be making a great move by signing this young man, whom I followed with interest and curiosity in the second half of last season,' Sacchi wrote in Gazzetta Dello Sport. "I'm convinced he'll be the lynchpin of the Azzurri defence for a long time. "Some, regarding a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Aren't those few? No, I reply. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far. "If someone is good, if someone has their head in the right place, it's immediately obvious. A person can have 200 Serie A games under their belts and still not possess the qualities Leoni displayed in his first season as an adult. Talent knows no age. "Let's also give him the opportunity to make mistakes. At eighteen, some mistakes are expected and can be forgiven. And in any case, Leoni won't make many. He's a tough guy who's already learned the fundamental lesson, keep your head down and work hard." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
