Jeremie Frimpong has reportedly emerged as a surprise transfer target for Chelsea, with questions already being raised over his future at Liverpool following a challenging start to life at Anfield.
Liverpool suffered a difficult campaign under Arne Slot, with none of the new signings making a real impact outside of Hugo Ekitike.
The £450 million window was set to bring new life to the club, though it has not been the case. Jeremie Frimpong has been one of the main strugglers of the new set of players since arriving at Anfield.
At Bayer Leverkusen, he was one of the most exciting wingbacks in Europe due to his electric pace. He’s been hit with a series of setbacks through injuries, and when he has been called upon, he has looked well below par. Trent Alexander-Arnold was always going to miss out in the Reds squad, though they hoped to find someone with the creative spark. So far, the Dutchman has not lived up to the role.
With Conor Bradley injured since January, a move for a right back has been rumoured amongst Kopites this summer. Marco Palestra has been one name mentioned a few times, but no pursuit seems clear at this stage. Under Andoni Iraola, Frimpong may get a fresh start at Anfield; however, a familiar face could be his saving grace.
Frimpong tipped with Chelsea move
Xabi Alonso’s arrival at Stamford Bridge left a few Liverpool supporters wondering about the club’s approach. The club seemed to allow the Blues a free run at the former Real Madrid manager, despite having the view to sack Arne Slot. In Germany, Alonso was the mastermind behind Frimpong’s attacking nature, which ran riot in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea are used to a back five, as they featured heavily with that formation under Thomas Tuchel, where Reece James thrived. James is still a strong option on the right-hand side, alongside French defender Malo Gusto. Now with the Spaniard’s decision to join the Blues, a move for Frimpong could be a possibility.
Former Spanish midfielder, Gaizka Mendieta believes that he would be a great signing for Chelsea. Especially as they look to build a squad that can compete towards the top of the Premier League.
Speaking with The Standard, he said, “Jeremie Frimpong could be a good asset for Xabi Alonso at Chelsea. Managers have players they trust from previous clubs, and there will be a belief from the player that they can find that form again.
“We often see players reuniting with former coaches for that reason, especially if things aren’t going well for those players, like Frimpong at Liverpool.
“I’m sure Chelsea will be active again in the market. They have to let players leave and bring new players in to suit the new coach.”
Liverpool say on a deal
Liverpool haven’t regularly struck deals with English rivals through the transfer window. The last deal the two struck was in 2017, when the Reds signed Dominik Solanke for £4 million. The last sale the Reds made to Stamford Bridge was for Raul Meireles in 2011.
Iraola will likely have a big say on whether he is sold this summer, especially after being left out of the Netherlands World Cup squad. Preseason will be detrimental to his chances of showcasing his craft to his new boss.
The Reds have plenty of other work to do in the transfer window, with wingers and midfielders being the priority. A left-back could also be considered ideal after Andy Robertson left on a free contract. Fans hope that the Dutchman can prove to be the man Kopites expected him to be, but there are few signs.
Slot’s experiment with utilising him on the right wing has also turned a handful of supporters against him. Without a back five formation, they have failed to see the best of Frimpong. If performances continue to fail to live up to expectations, a right back likely becomes a realistic transfer target.
