The significance and impact of Trent Alexander-Arnold is such that Liverpool is considering the acquisition of a senior right-back for the first time in ten years this summer.
Liverpool last brought in a specialist right-back when signing Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton in the summer of 2015. However, the rise of Alexander-Arnold under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance meant there was no need to recruit another player for that position.
The signing of Calvin Ramsay, who was on the move in January after a loan ruthlessly cut short, from Aberdeen in the summer of 2022 was a forward-looking move, while James Milner and Joe Gomez have stepped in whenever Alexander-Arnold was out of action.
The emergence of Conor Bradley also suggests that Liverpool may not necessarily need to sign a first-team starter for the right-back position for the upcoming season and beyond. However, with Monday’s announcement of Alexander-Arnold’s departure at the end of the season, which Slot has addressed for the first time, it’s a possibility that needs to be considered within the halls of the AXA Training Centre.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been targeted as a potential replacement. With a £30m release clause in his contract with the Bundesliga team, a move for the Dutch international could be appealing. Reports this week suggest that the Dutchman would be open to a Merseyside move if Liverpool were to express formal interest.
Rumours have also linked Monaco’s 23 year old Brazilian defender Vanderson with a move to the Reds, with the Ligue 1 club reportedly setting his price tag below $40 million. Alan Shearer has weighed in on the conversation, suggesting that Denzel Dumfries from Champions League finalists Inter could be well-suited to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As Liverpool prepares for the departure of a stalwart who boasts over 350 Premier League games, it’s expected that the speculation about potential right-back recruits will ramp up as the summer transfer window approaches.
For now, however, Slot’s public statements remain focused on his existing squad, particularly Conor Bradley, who’s been tipped to show his worth and stay injury-free to realise his significant potential. On Friday, Slot confirmed plans to grant the Northern Ireland international the remaining three games of the season so he can display his talents in preparation for life after Alexander-Arnold.
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Slot remarked on Bradley’s upcoming playtime stating, “I think you will not be surprised if I say everyone gets a programe over the summer, [but] Conor has such an intense playing style,” indicating that Bradley will feature prominently when the Reds welcome Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
“They all run a lot. But Conor (laughing) is in his own league when it comes to running a lot. Comparable maybe with Achraf Hakimi at PSG, he is everywhere during the game. But Hakimi is 26 I think. He is much more used to doing this every single week.
“He needs time, Conor, and a good programme to keep him fit. He is not the only one who has not been a regular starter who has had some injuries this season, look at Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott.
“The ones who are not regular starters, it is harder to keep them fit than the ones who are. If Conor is going to be the regular starter next season, that could maybe help him as well. I think he had 10, 15 or 20 games when Trent was injured last season…let’s hope that has a positive impact on his fitness as well.”
Slot mentioned Gomez as another in-house alternative, marking nearly ten years at Anfield later this year. Unfortunately, the versatile defender has been absent from Premier League action since December, raising doubts about his season’s future following a hampered comeback from a hamstring injury he sustained only 11 minutes into February’s FA Cup match against Plymouth Argyle.
Slot went on to add: “He is becoming closer and closer [to returning]. He is joining training sessions at the moment, he has been out for a long time. The last part of rehab is the hardest. I cannot guarantee it but he is getting closer and closer.”
