If, as is now widely expected, Trent Alexander-Arnold moves on from Liverpool this summer, Arne Slot is going to need a replacement. And bringing someone in to replace such a unique talent will provide a big test.
Sporting director Richard Hughes and the Liverpool transfer team have had more than enough time to come up with a shortlist. But a quick sweep around Europe shows there are not that many top-quality options to choose from.
We’ve taken a look at five of the most appealing ones, with a ranking for how good they would be for Liverpool. There are going to be plenty more full-backs linked with a switch to Anfield in the next few weeks…
Number five: Martim Fernandes (FC Porto)
With a $65 million (£50 million) release clause, the 19-year-old wonderkid is a regular in the Porto senior team. Given his age, he would be a gamble — and not a cheap one, either.
Fernandes is clearly a talent and he won’t be at Porto forever. But replacing Alexander-Arnold AND coming in with such a high price tag (even if his release clause could be negotiated) would be a very big ask of a teenager.
Number four: Tino Livramento (Newcastle)
Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento is one of the best young full-backs in the Premier League. Likewise, Lewis Hall on the opposite side of Eddie Howe’s defense would be a great signing to upgrade on Andy Robertson.
The pair both cost a substantial fee of around £35 million ($45 million), however. Signing one of them might not be anywhere near as costly as prizing Alexander Isak away from St James’ Park, but it wouldn’t be much simpler of a deal to do.
Number three: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
The numbers suggest that the Spurs full-back would be a good stylistically similar successor for Alexander-Arnold. Perhaps surprisingly, they appear to be similar-ish in how they interpret the role.
Porro has Premier League experience, too, and plenty of energy. But having cost an initial $40 million (£40 million), the 25-year-old would not come cheap. And that is before even considering the fact that Liverpool would have to negotiate with Daniel Levy.
Number two: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
The leading contender from outside the club for the role, Liverpool.com reported last week that the Dutchman was an option under consideration should Alexander-Arnold move on. However, he is not 100 per cent perfect.
Tactically, Frimpong is very different to the Reds’ current options and he has tended to play as a wing-back. He normally receives the ball high upfield rather than being the one who progresses it into the final third — something very different, but not necessarily an insurmountable problem.
Number one: Conor Bradley
Liverpool already has a player who can play right-back very well. There is just a couple of problems: firstly, that he is often injured, and secondly, that he isn’t the same kind of full-back as Alexander-Arnold.
Bradley isn’t as good as Alexander-Arnold but he has plenty of potential still to be exploited. He seems like a very good solution, though the creative emphasis would have to shift to somewhere else in the team.
Bradley will back himself to step up and fill the void — and he has shown at Bolton Wanderers that he can go a full campaign without being sidelined. He is definitely a candidate, though Liverpool would need someone else to help him out as well. Even though he is the most obvious pick, the Reds would still have to bring someone else in — possibly from the above list — alongside him.
