Jeremie Frimpong has been consistently linked with Liverpool, and it is reported he would “be keen on a move” to Anfield, though his suitability is questionable.
Frimpong has seen his name catapult to the top of discussions when it comes to who will replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, forgetting that he is not exactly a right-back.
The 24-year-old spent his early senior career in the position, but under Xabi Alonso his game has moulded to suit a wing-back system, showing off attacking qualities more than his defensive ones.
• READ: Why Frimpong would NOT be Liverpool’s right-back solution
His proclivity for driving the ball forward makes him more suitable to step into Mohamed Salah‘s shoes rather than Alexander-Arnold’s, but that has not stopped transfer links to Liverpool.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein, when speaking on NBC Sports about Alexander-Arnold’s exit referenced Frimpong and that he would be “keen on a move” should Liverpool pursue him.
Ornstein said: “If they went with something different, something more multifaceted, there are players potentially on the market, like a Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen.
“He has a €35 million (£29.7m) release clause, something in the region of that as I understand it.
“I also believe that he would be keen on a move to Liverpool if they decide to go down that route.
“They will have other options as well, but Frimpong has been mentioned in a number of reports so far.”
Frimpong is an exciting talent but if Arne Slot is seeking to solidify his defence and inject creativity elsewhere, the 24-year-old is not the solution – especially if Milos Kerkez is pursued at left-back.
Two attacking full-backs may be exciting to watch but it would leave Liverpool’s defence exposed and unsettle the solidity that has led the team to the Premier League title this season.
• READ: LFC ‘seriously interested’ in German midfielder – £51m fee
As Ornstein noted, “to go down that route” would require a significant shift alongside the other new faces that are expected to arrive in the summer, and with Frimpong not a specialist right-back there are alternatives in the market.
If he was arriving as an attacking option the discussion may be different as the price is certainly appealing, but Liverpool’s new right-back needs to be defensively sound first and foremost to tick the suitability box.
