Footballwonk

Liverpool target Jeremie Frimpong as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s successor

Liverpool are planning a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s right-back Jeremie Frimpong, seen as a key candidate to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to join Real Madrid. Frimpong’s €35–40 million release clause is drawing serious interest.

A red jacket held, not worn, reveals a player poised between past allegiance and future reinvention.

Frimpong emerges as leading replacement for Trent

Liverpool are preparing to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, by targeting Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong. According to The Times, Frimpong’s €35 million (£30m) release clause has caught Liverpool’s attention, and the 23-year-old is now viewed as one of the club’s top options at right-back.

A heatmap’s glow across his chest frames a defender reimagined as a system accelerant.

Fabrizio Romano reported on 9 May 2025 that Liverpool are fully informed about Frimpong’s contractual situation and have been analysing the financial structure of the clause, estimated at €35–40 million. Romano added that Frimpong is open to the move and ranks high on Liverpool’s shortlist for the right-back position.

2024/25 season performance overview

Jeremie Frimpong made 47 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, producing 4 goals and 12 assists.

  • Bundesliga: 32 matches – 4 goals, 6 assists

  • UEFA Champions League: 10 matches – 0 goals, 5 assists

  • DFB-Pokal: 4 matches – 0 goals, 1 assist

  • DFL-Supercup: 1 match – 17 minutes played, no stats recorded

Source: Transfermarkt

Detailed statistical profile

Attacking output

  • Dribbling: 3.14 attempts per game, 0.92 successful dribbles per game, 29% success rate
    (Source: FootyStats)

  • Passing: 28.17 passes per game, 84.34% accuracy
    (Source: FootyStats)

  • Key passes: 1.14 per game
    (Source: FootyStats)

  • Progressive carries: 5–6 per match — ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe
    (Source: The Football Faithful)

  • Touches in opposition box: ~5 per game — ranks in the 98th percentile among European full-backs
    (Source: The Football Faithful)

Defensive contribution

  • Tackles and interceptions: 1.25 tackles and 0.3 interceptions per match, 53.6% challenge success rate
    (Source: ScoutingStats.ai)

  • Clearances and blocks: 0.7 clearances and 0.2 blocks per match
    (Source: ScoutingStats.ai)

These metrics clearly show that Frimpong is not a traditional defender but a modern, multi-functional full-back suited to high-tempo systems. His combination of attacking thrust, progressive carrying, and involvement in advanced zones makes him a natural fit for Liverpool’s evolving structure.

Positional usage under Xabi Alonso

Under Xabi Alonso, Frimpong has featured in 130 matches for Bayer Leverkusen across four roles:

  • Right wing-back (RWB): 107 appearances

  • Right-back (RB): 13 appearances

  • Right winger (RW): 7 appearances

  • Attacking midfielder (AM): 3 appearances

This positional versatility underlines Frimpong’s role as a width-provider and attacking threat rather than a conventional full-back. His ability to operate across vertical corridors makes him ideal for Arne Slot’s preference for flexible formations.

Homegrown status and squad impact

Having spent his youth years at Manchester City’s academy, Frimpong qualifies as a homegrown player under both Premier League and UEFA squad regulations. This adds significant structural value to the transfer in terms of compliance and long-term squad planning.

A corridor framed by crests captures the friction between where he’s walked and where he’s heading.

A strategic piece, not just a defensive plug

For Liverpool, signing Jeremie Frimpong would not be a routine defensive move, but a structural investment to evolve their system. If the deal materialises for €35–40 million, it could be viewed in retrospect as a “strategic win” — both in terms of fit and financial foresight.