With Trent Alexander-Arnold’s imminent departure to Real Madrid, Liverpool are reportedly closing in the signing of a former Manchester City player as his replacement.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced his departure from Liverpool after spending 20 years with the club he joined as a child. With one of their biggest stars preparing to leave, Liverpool have moved quickly in the transfer market and are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a former Manchester City player as his replacement.
Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation had been one of the most talked-about topics on Merseyside. His exit to Real Madrid as free agent marks not only the end of an era, but also leaves a major gap in the squad. Now, the Reds appear to have identified their top candidate to fill it.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are in the final stages of securing a deal for Jeremie Frimpong to replace Alexander-Arnold. Personal terms are said to be nearly agreed upon, setting Frimpong up to become the club’s first signing of the 2025–26 season.
Frimpong, a Manchester City academy product, has become one of the standout players in the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. Known for his attacking mentality and consistency, he has registered five goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances this season.
While Frimpong is under contract with Leverkusen until 2028, he reportedly has a €35 million release clause. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, with negotiations centered around an installment deal between €35 and €40 million.
Slot remains cautious about Frimpong speculation
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has faced repeated questions throughout the 2024–25 campaign regarding several players with expiring contracts, including Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk. When asked about Frimpong’s potential arrival, he stayed true to the club’s policy.
“The answer is going to be the same: We don’t talk about the players we want to bring in publicly until the moment they signed for us. Then, you can ask them anything about them,” Slot said in Friday’s press conference.
Slot also emphasized that the club is not short on options at right back. “What I can tell you is that we already have Connor Bradley who can play really good in that position. Joe Gomez has played in that position multiple times,” he added. “As a club we’re always looking at interesting players that can strengthen our squad, but I won’t be talking about individuals,” the coach stated.