Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Liverpool have enjoyed an excellent first season under new manager Arne Slot, cruising to a dominant Premier League title. However, next season could present fresh challenges.
While stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have committed their long-term futures to the club, another key figure, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is set for a sensational summer move to Real Madrid.
A boyhood Liverpool fan who joined the Reds at the age of six, Alexander-Arnold will depart Anfield at the end of his contract in July—or potentially sooner if Madrid can negotiate an early transfer to include him in their squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in June.
The move has stirred controversy, with some fans (perhaps unfairly) accusing him of turning his back on the club that raised him. But few can deny that Alexander-Arnold leaves behind an enormous legacy. Over nearly a decade, he’s helped Liverpool win every major trophy available—including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup—while contributing 23 goals and an extraordinary 92 assists.
So just how do Liverpool go about replacing Alexander-Arnold?
Liverpool Target Frimpong as Replacement
With Alexander-Arnold’s exit looming, Liverpool are already working to fill the impending void. According to Sky Sports Germany reporters Florian Plettenberg and Jonas Gerhartz, the Reds are in “concrete talks” to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Frimpong, described as “special” by Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, has been one of Europe’s most electrifying full-backs over the past two seasons. The Dutchman scored 19 goals and delivered 24 assists across that time, including 12 assists this term, playing a key role in Leverkusen’s historic, unbeaten Bundesliga title campaign of 2023/24.
Despite being under contract until 2028, Frimpong reportedly has a release clause worth between £29 million and £34 million—a fee that looks like a potential bargain for a player of his form and ceiling.
According to Plettenberg and Gerhartz, Frimpong is “planning the next step” in his career, with Liverpool seen as a strong fit.
If the Reds can land him, not only would they secure a dynamic replacement for Alexander-Arnold’s attacking output—they may also gain a right-back with more defensive consistency. And if that’s the case, Frimpong won’t just replace Alexander-Arnold—he might even elevate Liverpool’s backline to a new level.
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