Liverpool has been advised that it should sign a full-back who will be willing to not play every game next season as it looks to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold — with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong under consideration.
In March, Liverpool.com reported that Frimpong was a potential target for the Reds. Widespread reports this week have suggested that Liverpool is likely to activate his $39 million (£30 million) release clause with personal terms not thought to be an issue.
But former Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock believes that Conor Bradley should not be forgotten as the post-Alexander-Arnold plan comes together. Bradley has shown that he has the talent to succeed at Anfield, but he just needs to prove that he has the consistency of both form and fitness to play every week.
“I think Liverpool should be bringing in a right-back who’s around 25 years old who has experience but also knows that they probably won’t play every single game,” Warnock told Gambling Industry News.
“That said, once you bring in competition, that shirt will be up for grabs. I do think Conor Bradley will be the long-term successor, though, but Arne Slot might have a different plan.
“He might want someone similar to Trent who’s happy to step into the midfield. We haven’t seen what Slot looks for in a signing yet, so it’s difficult to call.
(Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
“I do think Conor Bradley has the experience under his belt now to be Liverpool’s starting right-back. He’s really good in one-vs-one situations, he defends well and goes forward extremely well.
“The only thing I’d say is that he does sometimes get sucked into the crowd, but that’s just an age thing. He can get a little bit excited and make a challenge at the wrong time but apart from that he’s fantastic — that’ll come with experience.
“He’s a magnificent player and has a great stature. If you’re a winger coming up against him, you can see he’s tall, he’s athletic and suits everything you’d want from a modern-day full back.”
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Bradley could play for Liverpool against Brighton on Monday. Alexander-Arnold was booed when he came on against Arsenal and Arne Slot will have to decide whether to field the number 66 again.
The Liverpool head coach will likely be asked about that situation in his pre-match press conference. That is scheduled to start at 1.30pm UK time (8.30am ET) today.
Liverpool.com says: Bradley definitely has the quality to step up and replace Alexander-Arnold. Losing a body in that position, though, would not be a wise idea.
Liverpool signing Frimpong (or someone else) would mean having two very different options. A horses for courses type approach would be a sensible way of attacking next season.
