Liverpool have been linked with signing Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries this summer, but journalist Fabrizio Romano has now provided a new update.
The Reds struggled at right-back throughout the 2025/26 season, not helped by Conor Bradley suffering a serious knee injury midway through the campaign away to Arsenal.
Jeremie Frimpong has also lacked the quality and physicality in his first year as a Liverpool player, so targeting a new right-back has to be high up on their agenda in the summer transfer window.
Writing on X on Tuesday morning, Romano claimed that Arne Slot’s sacking may now alter the Reds’ stance on signing Dumfries from Inter, with a move to Anfield mooted of late:
“Understand Denzel Dumfries has release clause worth slightly less than €25m this summer. Real Madrid are informed and in touch with his camp. No bid/talks needed: clause or nothing. Liverpool were keen but Slot gone could change plans.”
Should Liverpool pursue their interest in Denzel Dumfries?
There are positives and negatives to Liverpool signing Dumfries this summer, with the Dutchman now a vastly experienced player at both club and international level, being praised by Micah Richards at the 2022 World Cup with the Netherlands:
“I just thought his whole game was brilliant. It was his timing of his runs… He didn’t sort of mix it up too much but when he did it was the right moments. Down this right-hand side he was just breathless.”
Dumfries would add attacking thrust from right-back, and while he has been more used to being a wing-back, he should have the nous to tweak his role slightly.
That said, the defender has just turned 30 years of age, so there is an argument to say that his best marauding days are behind him, not to mention the fact that Liverpool would have no sell-on value with him.
So the Reds could be better off looking at a younger right-back option in his mid-20s, allowing him to come in with his peak years still ahead of him, rather than an ageing figure who could suddenly struggle with the pace and power of the Premier League.