Image for Liverpool player “very open” to sealing Anfield exit and joining huge European club – journalist
Image for Liverpool player “very open” to sealing Anfield exit and joining huge European club – journalist
Jeremie Frimpong may have struggled in a Liverpool shirt since joining from Bayer Leverkusen last year, but he has been linked with a move to Barcelona.
The Dutchman arrived at Anfield with a big reputation after winning the Bundesliga title alongside Florian Wirtz, going unbeaten in the competition in 2023/24, but things haven’t worked out for him yet.
Frimpong has flattered to deceive at right-back, whether it be in terms of physicality, defensive work or end product, and Liverpool legend Jan Molby didn’t hold back in his criticism of him earlier this year:
“I’ve always been a little bit critical, because look beyond his pace and then tell me where are the top-four Premier League qualities. I don’t see it. Sometimes on the pitch he acts like a kid, he sometimes plays like a kid, and he looks like a kid when you see the size of him next to some of them. It doesn’t mean he’s not a great footballer, but this is just a different ball game.
“You’ve got to be able to look after yourself, to be physical, to play, and I just can’t see in what world that what turns this [around] is Frimpong and his pace. I can’t have that.”
Despite this, journalist Juan Jesus took to X on Monday to talk up a potential move to Barca for Frimpong in 2027, in a transfer that would come as a surprise to many:
“Barca isn’t just following Pedro Porro: Jeremie Frimpong is also on the shortlist to bolster the right-back position Flick requested him in his first year alongside Olmo, and Deco isn’t losing sight of his situation.
“The player is going through a nightmare at Liverpool, unable to adapt to England. Plus, he doesn’t factor into Iraola’s plans, who relies much more on Ronald Araújo for that position. Frimpong is very open to signing with Barca. The Reds are opening the door to his exit for £35m.”
Is Jeremie Frimpong good enough for Barcelona?
Frimpong has been a huge disappointment for Liverpool to date, struggling in so many facets of his game, so this Barca rumour naturally comes as something of a shock.
The Catalan giants are the current La Liga champions, standing out as one of the best teams in Europe, and in Jules Kounde, they already have an elite option at right-back who is superior.
Granted, the less physical side of the Spanish game could suit Frimpong more, but on current evidence, he simply doesn’t have the technical ability to play for them, or Liverpool, for that matter.
If you take the Netherlands international’s pace away, you are left with a very limited footballer, so Barca moving for him would seem strange, and Liverpool could jump at the chance to sell him.
Ideally, Frimpong finds his feet in a Reds shirt and suddenly flourishes under Andoni Iraola, but as things stand, it is hard to see that happening, especially as he is best as a wing-back, which is a position the Spaniard doesn’t often use.