Liverpool have been linked with a potential move for Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries this summer, courtesy of the reliable Paul Joyce.
Right-back has been a problem area for the Reds this season, not least because of a season-ending knee injury suffered by Conor Bradley in January.
Jeremie Frimpong has had fitness issues of his own, as well as adjusting to life at Liverpool, not always fully convincing since joining from Bayer Leverkusen.
It has meant that midfield pair Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have had to fill in, often admirably, as well as the versatile Joe Gomez.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. Liverpool won 2-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
According to the *Times*‘ Joyce, Liverpool are “aware of the situation” surrounding Dumfries, who has a £21.7 million release clause in his contract this summer.
The 30-year-old will battle Frimpong for minutes at the 2026 World Cup with the Netherlands.
It is claimed by Joyce that Dumfries “was considered” in January after Bradley’s injury, but the “priority” was signing centre-back Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
Denzel Dumfries: Shrewd signing or past his best?
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Liverpool's Diogo Jota is tackled by Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Signing a player in his 30s hasn’t generally been Liverpool’s transfer approach during the FSG era, which is why Dumfries would be a surprise addition this summer.
There would be no sell-on value, not to mention the risk of an ageing player struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
That said, there is also lots to admire about Dumfries, who has started two Champions League finals for Inter recently, in 2023 and 2025.
The Dutchman is now a 71-cap Netherlands international, scoring 11 times for his country, and his experience could be a good foil for Bradley and Frimpong.
It could also allow Frimpong to become more of a backup winger to whoever comes in as Mohamed Salah‘s successor ahead of next season.
Granted, Dumfries has often been deployed as a wing-back for Inter, like Frimpong at Leverkusen, but he would hopefully have the nous to play deeper at this point in his career.
But overall, Liverpool should be opting against signing Dumfries, given his age, instead looking at a younger option if they are intending on adding depth at right-back.