Liverpool is wasting no time in preparing for next season as the club closes in on Jeremie Frimpong, while also advancing with its pursuit of Milos Kerkez.
The Reds are adding a new right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed he is leaving the club at the end of season, and a new left-back is also on the agenda as the club targets a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson.
Liverpool scheduled a medical for Frimpong on Monday after agreeing to trigger the $39 million release clause in the player’s Bayer Leverkusen contract.
Frimpong has emerged as one of the best wing-backs in the world in recent years, making his relatively modest release clause appealing to the Reds, particularly considering they are receiving no money at all for Alexander-Arnold.
Frimpong primarily played as a wing-back in Xabi Alonso’s system, and even played further forward as a right-winger, but he also has plenty of experience at right-back, which is where he will likely be deployed by Arne Slot.
On the opposite flank, Kerkez has been fantastic for Bournemouth, and few would argue against him having been the league’s best left-back this term.
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Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that Liverpool had contacted Bournemouth about the possibility of signing Kerkez, and that talks were advancing.
Kerkez is reportedly keen on the prospect of moving to Anfield, with the club currently thrashing out an agreement on the youngster’s personal terms.
It sounds as though Liverpool’s chances of signing Kerkez are fairly high, but the club also has a back-up option in mind if it does not manage to get a deal for the Hungarian over the line.
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Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenburg says Ajax’s teenage defender Jorrel Hato is also on the club’s list of possible defensive signings. Hato, 19, established himself as Ajax’s first-choice left-back this season but is also comfortable operating as a central defender.
Hato was reportedly in attendance for Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Ipswich at Anfield in January. Several eyewitnesses claimed to have seen Hato in the stands, and that was not beyond the realms of possibility considering Ajax did not have a match that weekend.
Liverpool’s squad has a strong Dutch contingent, with Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all key players under head coach Slot, who is also Dutch.
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Hato addressed speculation surrounding his future during the January transfer window, saying that he had no intention of leaving the club midway through the season, but would not commit his future to Ajax beyond the summer.
“I read it all,” he said of the transfer speculation, “but I also know that not everything was right. For my development, the best thing is that I stay at Ajax now.
“I’m not thinking about leaving Ajax this winter, and I remain with that decision. I want to finish the season with Ajax.”
