Liverpool has had a lingering sense for some time that Trent Alexander-Arnold might be the closest of the out-of-contract trio to the exit door. That sense has now crystallized, with the full-back on the verge of confirming a free transfer to Real Madrid — and his boyhood club is wasting no time in sourcing replacements.
Of course, Liverpool is far from out of the woods with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah either, with no agreement reached on those fronts. But it is Alexander-Arnold whose fate now appears to be sealed.
That may almost bring a sense of relief for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes, who can at least now begin in earnest the process of planning for life without him. Conor Bradley may yet be a significant part of that plan, but the transfer market could also hold some solutions.
Sure enough, according to TeamTalk, Liverpool has drawn up a three-person transfer shortlist. It sees the net cast fairly wide, covering three of Europe’s major leagues.
Probably the most-discussed name on the list is Jeremie Frimpong. Not only does he fit the mold as a highly attacking full-back (in fact, he has been more of a midfielder under Xabi Alonso), he also set tongues wagging when he greeted Ryan Gravenberch in a mock Scouse accent during the international break.
Frimpong would necessitate a change of style. He is even less defensive-minded than Alexander-Arnold, and he’s also far less of a playmaker, bombing up his flank in a more orthodox manner rather than dropping into pockets and finding unlikely passing angles.
But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Slot is still putting his stamp on this Liverpool side, and as long as he can replace Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking in the aggregate, he doesn’t need the creative heart of his team to be at right-back.
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Should Slot want to maintain something a little closer to the status quo, Oscar Mingueza of Celta Vigo is another right-back who primarily influences the game through his range of passing. Indeed, he has split his time between the midfield and both full-back positions this seasons.
Naturally, that positional quirk also influences his creative numbers, perhaps making him look more similar to Alexander-Arnold than he really is. But a right-back so comfortable in possession is bound to show up on Liverpool’s radar.
And according to Fichajes, Liverpool has already “made contact” with Celta Vigo. Better yet, he has a cut-price $22 million (£17 million/€20 million) release clause in his contract.
The third name on the list is Andrea Cambiasso. No relation to Esteban, the Juventus talent is forging a reputation in his own right, cementing himself as a regular over the past two seasons following a loan at Bologna. On a spectrum, Cambiasso would probably sit somewhere between Frimpong and Mingueza. He’s drawn admiring glances from elsewhere, with Man City said to be keen on him as an heir to Kyle Walker.
Indeed, it’s claimed that he may already have agreed personal terms at the Etihad. But Liverpool could sound out his availability as it seeks to narrow down its list still further, ultimately finding the player up to the significant task of filling Alexander-Arnold’s boots.
Bradley certainly does not deserve to be forgotten in those discussions, and it may be that Liverpool decides it already has the best option out there. But with growing questions over his fitness record, Slot may opt for the transfer market, and there are clearly some interesting options out there.
