Liverpool reportedly face competition from Manchester City in the race to sign a potential alternative to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
At the start of this week, the long-serving right-back confirmed that he would be departing the Merseyside giants on a free transfer at the end of the season.
While the England international’s decision has divided opinion among the fanbase, the Premier League champions are left needing to find a replacement for one of the best homegrown talents in their history.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is one player who may be targeted by Arne Slot and Liverpool’s recruitment team, but they may need to cast their net far and wide before settling on a chosen player.
However, as per Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, they may face a fight from Man City if they step up their alleged interest in a Brazilian player.
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Man City admirers of Flamengo man
Liverpool have recently been linked with an approach for Wesley, with Di Marzio claiming that Man City have emerged as a potential destination for the right-back.
Such has been the 21-year-old’s performances for Flamengo that he has already earned two caps for the Brazil national team.
A total of three goals and five assists have come from 127 appearances in all competitions, Wesley being awarded a spot in Brasileiro’s Team of the Year for 2024.
City have reportedly been left suitably impressed by Wesley and are ready to push for his signature as Pep Guardiola looks to secure competition for the likes of Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis.
Furthermore, it is claimed that City want to sign Wesley in time for the start of the Club World Cup and view him as the preferred target for the right-hand side of defence.
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What could be Liverpool’s next move?
As well as being unproven in Europe, Wesley’s return in terms of goals and assists is far inferior to what Alexander-Arnold has produced for Liverpool over the years.
Slot has delivered a Premier League title even with Alexander-Arnold’s numbers being down on previous seasons, despite him still having three goals and six assists to his name.
Much may depend on the fee that Flamengo demand for a player who is under contract for at least another three-and-a-half years, but acquiring someone of Wesley’s age would lower an average age that largely gets dismissed due the club’s success this season.
