Liverpool's interest in Jeremie Frimpong hints at a key move involving Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool's interest in Jeremie Frimpong hints at a key move involving Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool may have indicated Arne Slot's preference for Trent Alexander-Arnold's position in the upcoming season. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the top right-backs globally since his breakthrough at Anfield, but he has recently started featuring in midfield.
In September 2021, Gareth Southgate tested Alexander-Arnold in midfield during England's 4-0 victory over Andorra in the World Cup qualifiers. Although it was a brief experiment lasting only 45 minutes, he partnered with Jude Bellingham as an eight while Jordan Henderson played as a six.
Following the international break, Jurgen Klopp questioned why the England manager would deploy Alexander-Arnold in an unfamiliar role.
The former Liverpool manager expressed his preference, stating: "In a scenario like this, where England or we are dominating so much that Trent could play in midfield, I would prefer him to play as the number six rather than as the number eight in this case. It's feasible, but why convert the world's best right-back into a midfielder? I don't quite grasp that. It's as if the right-back position isn't as crucial as the others. I find it difficult to understand how people could think that."
Klopp had previously experimented with playing Alexander-Arnold in midfield a few times in 2018, but did not revisit the idea - at least on paper - until 2023.
In an interview with FourFourTwo in April 2024, Alexander-Arnold described his transition to midfield as a natural evolution: "It has already evolved and adapted in various ways. I think the game against Leeds away in April was particularly successful, just after we played Arsenal. I was mobile, I was on the ball, and I was able to do what was required, as were my teammates."
Earlier last month, the England manager discussed his decision to position Alexander-Arnold slightly deeper alongside Declan Rice in a double pivot: "Firstly, he enjoys representing England. His international career has been challenging due to the depth of talent in that position, meaning he hasn't always had as much playing time as his abilities merit. Nevertheless, we've always strived to find a solution, and I believe he understands and appreciates that. It was wonderful to see him score, experience that moment, and display such confidence for England."
With Alexander-Arnold increasingly mastering the midfield role, Arne Slot appears interested in structuring his team around this technician, potentially requiring the acquisition of a new right-back. Liverpool have made an inquiry with Bayer Leverkusen regarding Jeremie Frimpong. The 23-year-old defender played a significant role in Xabi Alonso's squad this season, contributing to their unbeaten Bundesliga triumph.
Frimpong has a €40 million (£33.7 million) release clause in his contract at the BayArena, which expires on Friday despite his current deal running until June 2028. Barcelona is said to have submitted an offer for the Dutch international, but Bayer Leverkusen deemed it insufficient. Slot aims to imprint his own style on Liverpool this summer, potentially heralding the beginning of a new era.