Liverpool ready to trigger Jeremie Frimpong’s £30million release clause as Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement
LIVERPOOL are on the brink of taking a huge step towards replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold, it’s been claimed.
The Reds are eyeing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong as a replacement for the outgoing Alexander-Arnold, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season.
And the Kop club are moving quickly to secure the 24-year-old’s services.
That’s according to The Times, who claim the Merseysiders are set to trigger the defender’s £30million release clause.
A timeline for the Reds’ triggering of the Netherlands international release clause, however, is currently unknown.
Liverpool are said to be keen on Frimpong due to his versatility as a right wing-back and a right winger.
The low fee needed to bring him to Anfield is also said to have played a role in the club’s decision to pursue him.
Signing Frimpong would also add to the number of home-grown players on the Reds’ books.
The Dutchman would qualify as a homegrown player as he spent nine years in England when he was on Manchester City’s books.
Frimpong was a key part of the Leverkusen team that pipped Bayern Munich to the 2023/24 Bundesliga title.
Leverkusen haven’t been shy about their desire to retain Frimpong’s services and recently denied reports that they’d agreed to sell the defender.
Club CEO Fernandno Carro told RTL: “Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, which also has an exit clause.
“But we are currently unaware of any transfer.”
The Reds were hoping they wouldn’t have to pursue Frimpong, or any right-sided defender, as they hadn’t given up hope of Alexander-Arnold committing his future to the club.
But the England international emotionally announced last week that he’d be LEAVING his boyhood club after his contract expires at the end of the season.
His announcement wasn’t well received by sections of the Anfield faithful, who BOOED him when he came on as a second-half substitute in the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal last Sunday.