Liverpool manager Arne Slot might be negotiating a transfer that could salvage his side next season as talks continue with Jeremie Frimpong. The Bayer Leverkusen right-back is currently in talks with the Anfield club and is reportedly keen on a move.
With the 24-year-old’s release clause set at just over £29million, a switch to Merseyside looks inevitable. The transfer could go a considerable way to appeasing Liverpool fans following the confirmed departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid this summer. However, Frimpong’s presence could also solve another problem looming for Slot in the 2025/26 campaign.
For all the fanfare that surrounded Mohamed Salah signing a new two-year deal with the club, the Egyptian forward will not be available to his side for the entirety of the season. In December, he’ll head off to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with his side among the favourites in Morocco.
Egypt will kick off their campaign on December 22 against Zimbabwe, before further group stage matches against South Africa and Angola. With the final not scheduled until January 18, Salah could potentially miss more than a month of domestic action.
With Federico Chiesa being heavily linked with a move back to Italy with Napoli, and speculation mounting over the futures of Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota, Slot now faces a potential dearth of wide attackers. However, Frimpong’s versatility could quash that conundrum.
The Manchester City youth player, who was pivotal to Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win in 2023/24, is equally capable of playing in an advanced winger role. His goal record for a defensive player has also been impressive in Germany, scoring 30 times in 190 appearances.
With Conor Bradley also touted as a long-term prospect at Liverpool, the Dutch boss is unlikely to be perturbed about the prospect of playing the Northern Irishman at full-back, with Frimpong playing ahead of him on the same flank. That move would also save FSG considerable transfer funds this summer.
Liverpool had been linked with Real Madrid star Rodrygo. However, his reported £85m price tag is likely to prove a major stumbling block, with the opportunity for Slot to now adapt from within potentially crucial to maintaining momentum during Salah’s absence.