Giovanni Leoni will begin training with the Liverpool squad next week, with the £26 million centre-back now eligible to make his first-team debut.

With no first-team fixture until next Monday away to Newcastle, Leoni is able to take some time to settle in the UK before training resumes.

Arne Slot is set to welcome his players back at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday as preparations begin for the first away trip of the new campaign.

“We’ll train Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, so it’s a nice week to come into the group. We have quite a long week towards Newcastle,” the head coach told his latest signing on Friday.

Leoni should be available against Newcastle bar any late fitness issues and the teenager could take a place on the bench as he is considered an immediate first-team option.

Leoni’s switch from Parma to Liverpool was only made official hours before kickoff in the opening game of the Premier League campaign.

Owing to registration rules the 18-year-old was therefore not able to feature, though in all likelihood Slot would not have considered him even if the paperwork was completed in time.

Instead Leoni watched the 4-2 win over Bournemouth from the stands at Anfield, sitting in the area typically occupied by club officials and guests in the Main Stand.

The Italian met some of his teammates after the game and was pictured standing alongside Alisson, with Slot pointing out the height difference between the goalkeeper and the lofty defender.

Leoni is of course eligible to feature for the U21s but it is unlikely he will be called upon for their league opener against Leicester on Monday night.

That would impact on his involvement in senior training the following day at a time when Leoni will be looking to make a strong first impression on Slot, his staff and the squad.

Liverpool were boosted by the return of Joe Gomez for the win over Bournemouth and he came off the bench to play the final 18 minutes at right-back.

With Conor Bradley sidelined and Jeremie Frimpong feeling the effects of his Premier League debut – being brought off after an hour due to a hamstring complaint – the No. 2 will be required for cover at right-back.

But ahead of an expected move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, Slot does at least not have four established options at centre-back in starters Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and backups Leoni and Gomez.