Truth emerges over £29.5m Jeremie Frimpong deal | OneFootball

Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer. The homegrown right-back ran down his contract and ultimately joined Real Madrid for around £10m just before it expired.

The Reds had Conor Bradley in reserve as a plug-and-play solution to replace Trent. Bradley, 22, is another academy talent and showed in his deputising for the England international that he was capable of stepping up.

He even agreed a new, long-term contract with the club - ensuring continuity in the right-back slot.

But last summer Liverpool took even more action to cover Alexander-Arnold. Sporting director Richard Hughes activated what appeared to be a very clever purchase of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.

Frimpong signed as cover for TAA and Salah

The Dutch international, 24, had been a mainstay of Xabi Alonso’s highly successful side - contributing energy, goals and assists over the past few season.

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Frimpong therefore was seen in some quarters as a natural successor to the attack-minded Alexander-Arnold. That was of course if he could get past Bradley in the pecking order.

He did so - starting the opening day win at Anfield over Bournemouth - but the truth over Frimpong has begun to emerge over the subsequent weeks.

Jeremie Frimpong is not a right-back

He’s not a right-back.

Dominik Szoboszlai had to fill in at Newcastle away when both Bradley and Frimpong were injured. And Frimpong hasn’t started a game in the position since Bournemouth at home two months ago.

So what is he?

Most naturally, he is a wing-back. He barely EVER played right-back for Leverkusen and even national team manager Ronald Koeman has his reservations over playing Frimpong there.

He is at his best in the wide position of a midfield four - covering the flank but mostly looking to get forward with his dribbling capabilities.

© IMAGO - Jeremie Frimpong Liverpool