Liverpool ‘Keen’ to Agree Terms with £29.7m Defender This Summer – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool Eye Frimpong as Ideal Trent Successor – But Will He Fit Slot’s System?

Liverpool’s title-winning campaign under Arne Slot is still fresh in the minds of supporters, but the planning for next season is well underway – and talkSPORT’s latest report has added fuel to the fire. According to their sources, Liverpool have identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong as a serious target to replace the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold and are keen on agreeing a deal.

Crucially, Frimpong can be acquired for a relatively modest fee. “TalkSPORT sources have confirmed the 24-year-old Netherlands international has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Leverkusen for just £29.7m [€35m] when the transfer window opens.” In the modern market, that price for a full-back of his calibre and output is nothing short of a steal.

The Dutchman has already tasted action at Anfield this season, albeit in a heavy 4-0 Champions League defeat. Still, his overall numbers with Bayer Leverkusen tell a far more impressive story: 44 assists and 29 goals across 189 games, predominantly from right-back or wing-back.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s Dutch Connection Could Be Key

There’s a growing Dutch influence at Liverpool under Arne Slot, and Frimpong’s connections with current Reds could prove pivotal. “Frimpong already has close friendships with a number of Liverpool players through the Netherlands international team – including Dutch captain Van Dijk.” Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch are also part of that national setup, while Frimpong’s playful “Alright la. You alright?” to Gravenberch during an international break cheekily nodded to the rumours swirling around a potential Anfield switch.

Slot, known for his fluid and attack-minded philosophy, may find in Frimpong the kind of profile that suits a wide role with freedom to push forward – potentially in a system that allows inverted full-backs or overlapping wing-backs depending on the match demands.

Right-Back Not the Only Priority

Despite the headline-grabbing search for Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, talkSPORT notes that Slot has broader ambitions this summer. “Right-back will be a key position to fill due to Alexander-Arnold’s exit to Real Madrid. But while it will be one of their priorities, it’s not the only position Slot is looking to strengthen.”

With goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili already incoming, the club are also eyeing Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, suggesting that the left-back and centre-back positions are also under scrutiny. Meanwhile, the need for an additional forward remains on the radar.

Liverpool’s ability to target four or more key roles suggests ownership are backing Slot in a significant way, reflecting confidence after his Premier League title win in just his debut campaign.

What Frimpong Offers – and Where He Falls Short

Frimpong’s game is defined by pace, dynamism, and direct attacking contributions. FBREF data positions him in the top percentile for progressive carries among full-backs, and his 29 goals further underline his instinct in the final third.

Xabi Alonso has described him as a “key” and “special difference” maker, and given Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double under his stewardship, Frimpong’s pedigree is unquestionable.

But for all his strengths, Liverpool fans hoping for a defensively resolute right-back might not find that in Frimpong. “While effective going forward and his speed meaning he is adept at recovery runs, Frimpong has not demonstrated a consistent ability to become a brick wall, lockdown defender,” notes the talkSPORT report – echoing similar concerns that followed Alexander-Arnold for much of his Anfield tenure.

Photo: IMAGO

This raises the question: does Slot value defensive solidity in wide areas, or will his system allow Frimpong the platform to play to his strengths while shielding him from prolonged 1v1 defensive duties?

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

This report from talkSPORT has stirred real excitement, and rightly so. Jeremie Frimpong isn’t just a suitable replacement for Trent – he’s a player who could redefine the role under Slot’s stewardship. At under £30m, it’s almost negligent not to consider him, given his attacking stats and experience under pressure in Germany and Europe.

Of course, the defensive questions are fair. But Liverpool fans must remember that Slot’s system doesn’t ask full-backs to be traditional stoppers. In fact, Slot often pushes his wide defenders high, trusting his midfield pivots and centre-backs to absorb pressure and cover transitions. In that context, Frimpong makes perfect sense.

Let’s also not underplay the chemistry aspect. Playing with Van Dijk, Gakpo, and Gravenberch at international level, and even joking around in a Scouse accent, Frimpong seems mentally prepared for Anfield. There’s no learning curve when it comes to culture or expectation – and that’s a big deal.

If Slot is serious about evolving Liverpool’s shape post-Klopp, this could be his first signature move. Frimpong is not a like-for-like Trent. But he might just be the first step in a very different, very exciting new era for Liverpool’s right flank.