The links to Denzel Dumfries were confusing initially, but Liverpool should get it done after what happened on international break.
The Dutchman has long been mooted as a potential addition to the Premier League, and Liverpool have been looking at Dumfries since January. He’s a pretty unique profile for a right-back — physically imposing in defence and a huge threat going forward.
Liverpool can ‘easily’ sign Dumfries for £22 million, according to reports from Italy. We questioned the need for adding another wing-back profile to Arne Slot’s right flank, but what happened to Jeremie Frimpong during the Netherlands’ latest friendly proves the recruitment team are on the right track.
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Arne Slot before Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League. Enzo Maresca Manager on the sidelines during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Leicester City.
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Liverpool need Denzel Dumfries to cover injury-prone Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley
Frimpong suffered another injury blow just 13 minutes after coming on for the Netherlands against Ecuador. Funnily enough, his introduction was likely influenced by Dumfries seeing red in the early goings of this friendly.
This is the fourth injury Frimpong has suffered since arriving at Anfield, despite missing just 11 games in his career before that.
His fellow Liverpool right-back, Conor Bradley, is also seemingly incapable of staying fit. His injury history makes for grim reading, with seven separate incidents in the past three seasons.
When the latest Dumfries links began to pick up steam, we wondered why Liverpool were looking at another right-back rather than addressing the likely left-back opening at the end of the season. Zoom out, though, and it doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
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Especially not at a fee of £22 million.
There are other, more pressing voids to address in the squad, but the more we see — or more accurately, don’t see — of Bradley and Frimpong, the more it feels like we are a player short in that department.
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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes watching on during the Reds' Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones
That has been evident with Dominik Szoboszlai playing right-back for much of the season. Dumfries is an experienced Champions League competitor.
Arne Slot might have a hard time spreading minutes between the three, but we haven’t been given much evidence to suggest the current options won’t miss significant time every season.
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