There is a quiet problem brewing down Liverpool’s right-hand side, and while nobody at Merseyside is pressing the panic button just yet, the clock is ticking on a fix.
Liverpool remain one of the genuine behemoths of global football. Almost every single player who walks through the doors at AXA Training Centre talks about the sheer size of the club and what it means to pull on the famous red shirt. They’ve won every trophy imaginable in the modern era, and even on the back of last term’s fifth-place finish, the pulling power remains undiminished.
Look no further than Bradley Barcola, who took the leap to Anfield despite having just won back-to-back Champions League titles with Paris Saint-Germain, convinced by the project and the immediate starting berth left vacant by Mohamed Salah’s departure.
Yet while the forward line received a high-profile facelift, other areas of the squad continue to beg for an upgrade. And as the winter window edges closer, Liverpool may have just stumbled upon the ideal solution to resolve an ongoing tactical headache.
In the 2025-26 campaign, right-back quickly morphed into one of the side’s primary sore spots. Arne Slot ended up having to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as makeshift full-backs for extended periods. While both midfielders put in commendable shifts, relied upon to plug a gaping hole, operating without a natural specialist in such a vital system was never going to be a sustainable long-term strategy.
It was no surprise, then, to see a laundry list of full-backs linked with Anfield over the summer. In the end, Andoni Iraola secured Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan to cover both central defence and the right flank. But with Conor Bradley still sidelined through injury and Jeremie Frimpong struggling to assert himself, the void remains. Araujo’s temporary status means Liverpool are effectively kicking the right-back dilemma down the road—leaving ample room for a permanent figure to step in.
According to the latest update from _CaughtOffside_, recruitment staff may already have identified their primary target.
“Sources have informed CaughtOffside that Liverpool have placed Kayode at the ‘top of their watchlist’ as they look to strengthen right-back rotation,” they reported.
**“Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United are also monitoring him to add athleticism to their defensive lines. Meanwhile, Juventus and other Serie A clubs are tracking his progress closely, given his youth background at Juventus and Fiorentina, and hope to bring him back to Italy.**
**“At present, no official bid has been submitted to Brentford, and no direct negotiations have begun. The process remains in the ‘monitoring and reporting’ stage ahead of the winter window.**
**“Signed from Fiorentina in 2025 for €17.5M, Kayode’s market value has climbed to around €40M. Brentford are expected to demand at least €60-65M for any serious talks.”**
For Kopites looking at the immediate landscape, Michael Kayode would represent a substantial upgrade on current options.
At present, Frimpong, who arrived for £29.5 million, finds himself largely on the outside looking in. Last season, Slot attempted to integrate his compatriot into the backline, and while the Dutchman’s blistering raw speed poses a threat going forward, his defensive diligence has often fallen short of the required standard. For all the occasional recovery tackles, he has frequently struggled against direct wingers, which ultimately paved the way for Araujo to take over the starting berth.
With Araujo’s future beyond the current campaign uncertain, Liverpool must do their due diligence. That is precisely why a move for Kayode makes so much sense.
Granted, bringing the 22-year-old to Merseyside would set the club back a substantial fee with Brentford holding out for around £55 million (€60-65m). But given his commanding performances under Keith Andrews in West London and his standout displays for Italy on the international stage, it is an investment that would yield long-term dividends. He already possesses vital Premier League experience, physical dynamism, and the tactical ceiling required to anchor Liverpool’s right flank for the next decade.
The monitoring process is underway; whether Liverpool turn that interest into a concrete winter move remains the ultimate question.