Liverpool could now reportedly look to sign Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries in a summer swap deal involving Curtis Jones.
It looks set to be a summer of change at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all among those to be moving on, and others potentially joining them out of the exit door.
The same could apply to Jones, who has become frustrated with a lack of playing time at Liverpool, and he has been linked with a move to Inter in recent times.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], the Reds are still interested in signing Dumfries in the summer, with the Dutchman having a £21.6m release clause in his contract this month.
Jones would then head in the opposite direction, bringing an end to his time as a Liverpool player and enjoying a fresh challenge in his career.
Is Denzel Dumfries the right option for Liverpool?
Liverpool need to sign a new right-back this summer, with Conor Bradley’s knee injury a very serious one, and Jeremie Frimpong not yet showing that he is a good signing in that position.
At 29, Dumfries isn’t getting any younger, but he could be a shrewd short-term option for a relatively small amount of money, having been hailed by Rio Ferdinand in the past for his performances for the Netherlands:
“He’s integral, just like Daley Blind, to the way that Louis van Gaal works. They’re the outlet that get beyond, and he’s a player you look at and think that he’s athletic, can beat people one-on-one. It’s not just about being there, it’s the quality. He’s not putting balls in willy-nilly, he’s picking people out, those cutbacks have been ever so dangerous. He doesn’t mind working at the other end of the pitch, as well.”
Dumfries has the attacking quality to be a big asset under Andoni Iraola, assuming he replaces Arne Slot at Liverpool, as looks to be the case, according to current reports.
He is experienced and would plug a gap for a few years, and while he wouldn’t have any sell-on value, the positives outweigh the negatives, having reached two Champions League finals with Inter and bagged 55 goal contributions in 207 appearances.