Jeremie Frimpong has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, so we simulated the 2025/26 season to see how he could perform as Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement.
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Jeremie Frimpong celebrates his team's win during the DFL Supercup match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart
Liverpool have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong following the announcement of Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure from the club
(Image: Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool this summer, the Reds have identified Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong as a potential replacement.
This season has been Alexander-Arnold's last as a Liverpool player, with the academy graduate looking destined for a move to Real Madrid when his contract expires in the summer. Unlike Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the defender opted not to renew his contract for a new challenge elsewhere, resulting in a difficult reception from Anfield in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
Conor Bradley has been tipped to become the new first-choice right-back for Arne Slot's side, but after suffering a few injury problems this season and having no specialised back-up, Liverpool could choose to sign a new right-back in the summer transfer window. Dutch defender Frimpong has been linked with a move to the Reds this summer after impressing for Bayer Leverkusen over the last few years.
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Formerly of Celtic and Manchester City's academy, Frimpong has played as more of a wing-back in the last two seasons under Xabi Alonso in Germany.
So, what could happen if Frimpong were to make a move to Liverpool this summer? We used Football Manager 2024 to find out...
Liverpool's 2025/26 season simulated with Jeremie Frimpong
To complete this simulation, we used Football Manager 2024 to sign Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, with the Reds paying the Dutchman's £29million release clause. We then simulated the 2025 summer transfer window and the rest of the 2025/26 season to see what could happen.
Liverpool made a few more additions in the summer transfer window, with Milos Kerkez, Liam Delap, and Giorgio Scalvini all signings for the Reds alongside Frimpong. On the other hand, there were some departures, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Federico Chiesa and Darwin Nunez all leaving the club.
Liverpool's best defenders from the 2025/26 season
Liverpool's best defenders from the 2025/26 season(Image: Football Manager)
From the go, Bradley was picked ahead of Frimpong, with the Dutchman regularly appearing off the bench, both as a right-back and as a right-winger. The second half of the season saw Frimpong begin to start more regularly for Slot's side, with the 24-year-old racking up 42 appearances across all competitions - 21 of those starts, and 21 off the bench.
Frimpong had the most goal contributions out of all the Liverpool defenders with eight goals and six assists, while he also averaged a rating of 7.25 per game, with Ibrahima Konate the only defender who averaged higher (7.26). At the end of the 2025/26 season, Football Manager 2024 put together an overall best Liverpool XI, based on performances, statistics, and other metrics. This is what it looked like:
Liverpool's best XI from the 2025/26 season
Liverpool's best XI from the 2025/26 season(Image: Football Manager)
Full Liverpool best XI: (4-2 -3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Diaz.
Frimpong didn't make the best XI, with his lack of starts likely the reason, as Bradley started in the right-back spot. Curtis Jones became a regular in the 2025/26 season, meaning Alexis Mac Allister played in a more advanced role as Dominik Szoboszlai featured more than not from the right.
Cody Gakpo failed to make the best XI, despite ending the season with 21 goals across all competitions and as Liverpool's second highest goalscorer. Liverpool were involved in an incredibly tight title race with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City until the final day of the season, but Slot's side fell at the final hurdle as they failed to defend their title.
The Premier League table from the 2025/25 season
The Premier League table from the 2025/25 season(Image: EA Sports)
Twenty seven wins, six draws and five defeats saw the Reds end the season with 87 points, three fewer than champions Chelsea. A 3-2 loss away to Newcastle United on the final day saw Liverpool miss out on winning the title, with their goal difference superior to Chelsea's.
But, it wasn't the end of the world, with Slot's side winning two trophies in what was a successful season. Frimpong got on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 in the FA Cup final, while a 3-1 win over Barcelona saw the Reds win the Champions League for the seventh time in their history.