Liverpool is expected to be active during the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot set to make his first significant outfield signings since joining the club last year.
The Reds agreed deals for Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer, but Chiesa has barely played this term and goalkeeper Mamardashvili is yet to move to Merseyside. A number of Liverpool’s targets are seemingly already known, with Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez frequently linked with the Reds.
Liverpool is in the market for new full-backs on both wings, with a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold required and the club also searching for a long-term successor for Andy Robertson on the opposite flank. It was first reported in March that Liverpool had held early talks over the possibility of signing Leverkusen star Frimpong in the off-season.
Liverpool.com reported at the time that Liverpool was among a number of top clubs that is monitoring Frimpong, who has emerged as one of the best players in the world in his position. At the time, Press Association sources described Alexander-Arnold’s departure as an obvious “domino factor”.
Frimpong, 24, is currently playing in his fourth full season for Leverkusen, and since moving to Germany he has established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position.
The Dutchman primarily plays as a wing-back in Xabi Alonso’s system, and has even played further forward as a right-winger, but he also has plenty of experience at right-back, which is where he would be likely to start out were he to join Liverpool.
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Kerkez, meanwhile, has left the door more than slightly ajar for a departure from Bournemouth in the summer. In an interview with The Athletic earlier in the season, he was asked whether he sees the next step in his career as being a “return to one of Europe’s elite clubs”.
Kerkez, who was previously on AC Milan’s books, responded: “As a kid, you dream to play at the highest level, win the trophies, be on the best teams.
“These are the things that my agent is on. My dad is on. When someone comes (in for you) you never know what’s going to happen or where you’re going to end up. In the summer, we will see what happens.”
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Kerkez has not been at Bournemouth for long, but it sounds as though he is already ready to move on, and Liverpool is the team he has been most strongly linked with. Liverpool is also expected to be in the market for a new striker, with Darwin Nunez expected to leave after three underwhelming years at Anfield.
Alexander Isak would be the ideal target but he is likely to be out of reach, particularly if Newcastle secures a spot in the Champions League, and someone like RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko could be a suitable alternative.
In midfield, Liverpool has been linked with a move for a new holding midfielder after missing out on Martin Zubimendi, who is set to join Arsenal. Ryan Gravenberch made the position his own this season but he also has attacking qualities that are not maximized in his current role, so the addition of Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller would allow the Dutchman to move into a more advanced position.
Liverpool line-up with four new signings: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Stiller, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Sesko
