Liverpool are now showing firm interest in Bayer Leverkusen starlet Jeremie Frimpong as the Premier League champions look to make an explosive start to their summer transfer business
Liverpool have made early progress on a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 24-year-old defender, who could team up with international team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo on Merseyside, is eager to join Arne Slot’s Dutch revolution at Anfield.
German sources indicate Liverpool have now held initial talks with Leverkusen over the structure of Frimpong’s release clause, which is worth between £29.5m (€35m) and £33.7m (€40m).
The Premier League champions would also be willing to propose a five-year contract should they decide to push the button on a deal as Slot targets competition for highly-rated right-back Conor Bradley.
Frimpong has scored 30 goals and registered 44 assists in 190 appearances for Leverkusen and Liverpool do not appear to be deterred by the fact he has predominantly featured as a right wing-back under Xabi Alonso.
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The Dutchman recently revealed he wanted to sign for Liverpool as a nine-year-old but his dream childhood move collapsed because his parents were unable to drive.
He explained to Rising Ballers: “I chose Liverpool first and I was going to sign for them but back then driving wasn’t a thing, my family weren’t driving and it was far, Man City was local so I tried City next.”
Frimpong spent nine years in City’s academy setup before moving to Scottish giants Celtic. He won a treble with the Hoops under Neil Lennon in 2020 before moving to Leverkusen the following January for an undisclosed fee.
The Holland international was a key figure throughout Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic campaign last season as they won the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal before eventually losing to Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin.
Real Madrid remain determined to secure the services of Alexander-Arnold for this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States. Initial talks have been held with Liverpool over his early release but the Reds are commanding a fee to free him early from his contract which formally expires on June 30.
Los Blancos have also shortlisted Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate as they look to sign a new centre-back for incoming boss Alonso. The Frenchman has just one year remaining on his Anfield deal and Liverpool are keen to avoid a repeat of the Alexander-Arnold saga as they know Real Madrid will pounce to land Konate on a free transfer in 2026, should they be handed the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez must also now serve a five-match international ban for Uruguay following the dismissal of an appeal. Nunez, who is heading for the Anfield exit door this summer, was caught up in ugly scenes in the stands after Uruguay’s Copa America semi-final defeat to Colombia last July.
CONMEBOL sanctioned the 25-year-old and Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur last August but their bans were suspended after they lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming they acted in self-defence. However, the appeals have now been dismissed by the CAS, who said: “The principle of self-defence does not apply and the conduct of the players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action.”
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