Liverpool are expected to win the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong over the next month or so.
Frimpong will arrive at Liverpool to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold who is set to join Real Madrid himself.
Arne Slot already has Conor Bradley at his disposal, but Liverpool can’t expect to retain their Premier League title with just one right-back next season.
In fact, Liverpool have some doubts about Bradley in some respects, even if he is a player who could go on to excel under Slot in the years to come.
But without stating the obvious, Frimpong is not Alexander-Arnold and they are very different players, even if they are both excellent going forward.
Liverpool might play Frimpong as a winger at times, and there is one signing that Slot could make to help his squad endlessly next season.
Jorrel Hato is the perfect signing for Liverpool
After signing Frimpong, Slot should be turning his immediate attention to grabbing Jorrel Hato from Ajax.
Liverpool are interested in Hato and he really is the perfect addition to allow Frimpong to thrive at Anfield.
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A lot of Frimpong’s strength derives from his attacking runs down the right — he loves to overlap his winger and he’s extremely good at doing so.
In fact, Frimpong could really help Mohamed Salah thrive to a degree, allowing him to drift inside into central areas whilst he’s overlapping.
However, if Frimpong is high up the pitch in a wide position for much of Liverpool’s games, their defence could suddenly look very lopsided — and that’s where Hato comes in.
Slot’s compatriot is a brilliant mix of a full-back and a left-sided centre-back, and he could tuck alongside Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as a three in that scenario.
Arne Slot is forging his Jeremie Frimpong plan
Right now Liverpool have either Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas available on the left, and neither suit that tactical switch.
Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, even if he might be set to join Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid in the near future.
And that is perhaps because Slot has recognised the need to have three centre-backs at times, allowing Frimpong to flourish further forward.
Van Dijk has complemented Hato in the past and it’s clear why — he’s an excellent young talent and he could unlock Frimpong at Liverpool.
Moreover, Hato might only cost around £40m this summer which would represent a bargain given the rich potential of the 19-year-old.
