Although he scored a wonderful equaliser against Manchester City on Saturday, debate has once again raged around Liveprool’s right-back this week.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has never been far from the conversation over the past 18 months or so. Vilified in certain sections for an apparent lack of defensive awareness, the calls to play him in midfield are starting to grow louder.
Those calls don’t tend to come from Liverpool fans, it must be said. And even after Trent himself suggested he wants to play in the middle, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t show any signs of bowing to that.
Nevertheless, following Jeremy Doku giving him a difficult time at the Etihad, and Alexander-Arnold’s subsequent decisiveness at the other end, maybe Klopp should begin to ponder it.
Perhaps part of the reason why Jurgen isn’t keen to chuck Trent into midfield full-time is because of the lack of a suitable back-up. Following today’s transfer news though, that could all change next summer.
Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed on X that Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has a £35m release clause and is open to a move next year. For all the good it could do Trent, now is the perfect time for Liverpool to bring him in.
Liverpool should sense Frimpong chance
If Liverpool are looking for a natural successor to Alexander-Arnold, then Frimpong really jumps out.
In Xabi Alonso’s free-scoring Bundesliga leaders, the Dutchman has been shining. With four goals and five assists already, Frimpong is proving to be an absolute weapon in the final third.
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Still only 22, he has accumulated 164 appearances for Leverkusen, Celtic and the Netherlands. Having also spent time at Man City between the ages of 16 and 19, the right-back is grounded in a style of play that can be translated to Liverpool.
Obviously, with his form being so good – and release clause so relatively low – there will be plenty of interest from elsewhere. Real Madrid have already been named as a potential rival for the Reds.
However, Liverpool should be able to beat the competition with the promise of being their new starting right-back. With a sufficient replacement being found, Trent would then be free to move into midfield full-time.
There will be plenty of Liverpool fans who no doubt see no need to move Alexander-Arnold from where he is. And, to be honest, we’re of that mind, too. But given how the 25-year-old clearly wants to play there – and has a contract running out in 2025 – the Reds should abide by his wishes.
Besides, it’s obvious that Trent could do some real damage playing as a midfielder. It would surely unleash the best parts of the Scouser’s game while protecting him from the defensive microscope he’s always under.
His form this season suggests that Frimpong could be the man to do that. At true value, Liverpool would have to pay way more than £35m to get him. With the clause coming into effect next summer, they can’t pass up this chance.