Arne Slot praises 'beast' Liverpool star as new signing trains with first team

The Reds have bolstered their first-team ranks with a month of the campaign still remaining. And it's a move that could prove crucial in cementing a top-five finish and securing a return to European football's premier competition.

Slot has also heaped praise on one of Liverpool's most exciting young talents, crediting him with "becoming a beast" during a recent spell on the sidelines. The ECHO rounds up the latest news from around Anfield as Liverpool look to finish strongly at the climax of a rollercoaster campaign.

Giovanni Leoni may not have been seen much around Anfield this season, but Slot has nonetheless praised the youngster for his recent developments. The 19-year-old has been sidelined since suffering an ACL tear in his debut against Southampton last September.

That said, he has made productive use of his time rehabilitating. Slot is fully aware of the physical specimen at his disposal after Leoni joined from Parma last summer amid significant fanfare.

The Liverpool boss found himself thinking of Leoni while discussing Hugo Ekitike's recent season-ending injury. And supporters will no doubt be enthused by Slot's glowing assessment of the youngster's development.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of this weekend's clash against Crystal Palace, Slot said: "He [Ekitike] will be back stronger, as well as the others who have been injured for such a long time.

"If you look at Giovanni Leoni, I don't know if you once in a while see some Instagram posts of the club, but this guy has become a beast!"

Leoni is still working his way towards a comeback and is not expected to return to first-team action until the latter stages of 2026. Consequently, he is unlikely to feature again in what has otherwise proved to be a largely forgettable debut season in English football.

That said, there is every reason for supporters to look forward to what the player could bring next term. And for those who harboured doubts about whether Leoni could handle the physical demands of the Premier League, Slot's assessment may put those concerns to bed.

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Supporters were left puzzled when Liverpool unveiled their only winter acquisition back in January. However, it may not be long before the name Mor Talla Ndiaye becomes much more familiar.

Ndiaye, 18, is the sole new arrival at Anfield in 2026 following his move from Senegalese outfit Amitie for approximately £1million. The teenage centre-back was ruled out after an injury was discovered during his Liverpool medical, but is now making encouraging progress on Merseyside.

The youngster is edging closer to a first-team debut after joining Slot's squad for the first time this week. Ndiaye was included in the senior training group ahead of Saturday's fixture against Crystal Palace and was undoubtedly in contention for a place on the substitutes' bench at Anfield.

There is considerable optimism surrounding the budget signing, who operated as a midfielder before converting to defence at Amitie. Liverpool are laying the groundwork to prepare for the inevitable exit of club legend Virgil van Dijk, who appears destined to leave when his deal runs out in 2027.

The Reds invested significantly more to complete the capture of Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, who sealed a £55m transfer ahead of this summer. Nevertheless, supporters will hopefully soon witness Ndiaye in action as he settles into the squad, having earned his first outing for Liverpool's under-21s only last month.

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