REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool have made some brilliant signings in recent years, but with every positive transfer deal there will always be another that proves to be disappointing.
Liverpool have had some big hits in the transfer market, especially when you look at the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike, and even further back when you look at the deals for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker and how important they have been to the club's success in recent years.
The Reds have made some signings that have proven to be underwhelming too, including full-back duo Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who both have a lot to prove if they are to have a long-term future at Anfield.
The Merseyside outfit brought Frimpong in from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £30m as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer, but he has shown his defensive frailties to suggest he is unable to play at right-back on a consistent basis.
Indeed, Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola have at times preferred to play players out of position there - Dominik Szoboszlai and Ronald Araujo - rather than playing the Netherlands international there, which perhaps says it all.
The latest reports suggest that the 25-year-old wants to leave Anfield and that he is attracting interest from Barcelona after his Liverpool 'nightmare'.
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Jeremie Frimpong's Record for Liverpool
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As things stand, Frimpong is a £30m flop and, unless his fortunes really change, it's difficult to see him having a long-term future with the Reds, especially if Iraola remains as manager.
He isn't the only player who could be on his way out of the club in 2027 though.
While the jury is still out on big-money signing Florian Wirtz, one player who simply has never done it in a red shirt is fellow forward Federico Chiesa.
Chiesa Needs to Leave in 2027
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Liverpool chiefs would have expected they were getting a £10m bargain when they signed Chiesa from Juventus in the summer of 2024, having been one of the best attacking players in Serie A at the time.
However, the Italy international has actually proved to be an even bigger waste of money than someone like Frimpong, given what he has actually given the club and the fact he's never looked like a good fit for them.
10 goal contributions in 50 appearances for the Reds is clearly underwhelming for a player of his ability, and there have been few signs to suggest that his fortunes will change anytime soon.
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Chiesa Record for Liverpool
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Chiesa is currently sidelined with a muscle injury that has kept him out of action this season, and it's hard to imagine that he wouldn't have left Anfield in the final days of the summer transfer window had he been fully fit.
Another sign that he has no future at Liverpool was the fact he was omitted from their Champions League squad in September, even though his injury issue isn't considered to be long-term.
With no Champions League football on the horizon and his minutes in the Premier League likely to be limited given the attacking options at Iraola's disposal, it would be a shock if Chiesa didn't finally leave the club in 2027, and potentially as early as January.
Van Dijk has certainly been full of praise for the attacker as recently as last season, but he will also know that the 28-year-old has shown no sign of consistency.
"He's a great character and we all love him, I think everyone can see that, and he's loved by the fans, and to produce moments like he has [against Bournemouth] is something we all want to see."
Despite Van Dijk's kind words, there is no getting away from the fact that the Italian has only made nine starts for the club in over two years, and has gone from one of their most exciting signings in years to one of the biggest disappointments.
Liverpool chiefs need to ensure they get him and his wages off the books as quickly as possible in 2027.