Liverpool have been linked with a move for Valencia defender César Tárrega amid reports that Giovanni Leoni could be ruled out for the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, who has earned six caps at under-21 level, has become an established presence at the heart of Carlos Corberán’s defence since returning from a successful five-month loan spell at Valladolid in the summer of 2024.
Reports in Spain suggest Liverpool could enter the race for Tárrega’s signature, with the 6ft 4in centre-back also reputedly the subject of interest from Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Tárrega has been valued at £44m in the Spanish press, although the football data website Transfermarkt puts his value at £7m.
What would a move for César Tárrega mean for Giovanni Leoni?
Liverpool are not noted for unplanned excursions into the transfer market, however, and it is unclear where a move for Tárrega would leave Leoni.
The arrival of the 18-year-old Italian, a £26m acquisition from Parma, fulfilled a long-standing ambition among the Anfield hierarchy to sign a young, talented centre-back who could be developed, and it is perhaps questionable whether the club would sign a player who might impede his long-term path into the first team.
Having made an accomplished debut alongside Joe Gomez in Liverpool’s 2-1 League Cup victory on Tuesday night, Leoni left the pitch on a stretcher with nine minutes remaining after landing awkwardly in a touchline challenge. The club has yet to make an official announcement about the nature of the injury, but multiple reports on Wednesday afternoon suggested Leoni, who was visibly distressed, has torn an anterior cruciate ligament.
What did Liverpool boss Arne Slot say about Giovanni Leoni’s injury?
Liverpool manager Arne Slot declined to comment on the exact nature of the injury, but did not attempt to disguise its potential seriousness.
“Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot,” said Slot. “I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right. Let’s hope for the best.”
Liverpool were poised to complete the £35m transfer of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi on transfer deadline day, only for the move to fall through at the 11th hour after the Selhurst Park club, unable to sign a suitable replacement, pulled the plug. With the 25-year-old England defender out of contract next summer, it has been widely anticipated that Liverpool could seek to revisit the deal; it remains to be seen whether a long-term injury to Leoni would accelerate those plans.
What other centre-back options do Liverpool have?
Liverpool could also look within their existing ranks for a replacement, with Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch both capable of deputising should remaining first-team centre-backs Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Goez suffer injury.
Other options include vice-captain Andy Robertson, who filled in at centre-back in the latter stages against Southampton and was also deployed there at times in pre-season, as well as academy players Rhys Williams, Amara Nallo and Luke Chambers.
