Liverpool's spending spree has seen them sign some of the most exciting players in the game. However, their defensive weaknesses have been exposed in their first two games of the season. Leoni, who joined from Parma for a reported £26 million, may not be the immediate solution, but he is certainly one to watch for the future.

It took Leoni 30 first-team appearances for Europe's top clubs to take notice of him. Now, he has found a home at Liverpool, and we can explore who he is and where he fits in.

Liverpool has been looking for a young centre back for some time. Virgil van Dijk is getting older, and the team needs to make the most of his experience while it lasts. They were interested in Leny Yoro before he joined Manchester United, but their priority target, Dean Huijsen, decided to join Real Madrid instead. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, gave his team the mission to find the next best thing, and they landed on Leoni.

There were rumors that Liverpool might loan Leoni out to gain more experience, but with the departure of Jarell Quansah, they lack numbers at the back. Marc Guehi remains a target, but if he joins from Crystal Palace, he would be ahead of Leoni in the pecking order.

Leoni is a physical player, standing at 6'5" and built like a strong defender. He is almost as strong in the air as he is on the ground, winning 63% of aerial duels in the league last season. He also shows a good awareness for crosses and cutbacks, often finding himself in the right place at the right time.

Comparisons to Van Dijk are inevitable, and Leoni has a similar ability to carry the ball out from central defence. He has a 100% dribble success rate in the Serie A last season, albeit with only three attempts.

However, Leoni still has room for improvement, which comes with his age and inexperience. He was quite risk-averse at Parma last season, choosing the safe option rather than taking risks. His pass accuracy rate was 88.7%.

It's a significant fee for an 18-year-old centre back, but the market is what it is. Leoni's potential is undeniable, and the environment at Liverpool should help him reach it. Learning from Van Dijk is a great opportunity for any young defender, and if Leoni is patient, the minutes will come, but he'll likely have to wait for cup games and late substitute appearances to make an impact this season.