Any hope of discovering a like-for-like substitute for Trent Alexander-Arnold was non-existent. He’s a unicorn, a passing full-back like no different. However maybe Arne Slot didn’t desire a like-for-like substitute. Jeremie Frimpong brings completely different qualities.
The discharge clause in Frimpong’s Bayer Leverkusen contract was set at £29.5m and that represents worth for Liverpool. It is a 24-year-old participant with a report of excessive achievement following his massively profitable three-season keep within the Bundesliga.
Julian Ward, Liverpool’s technical director, has a mantra relating to recruitment. His perception is that new signings ought to, ideally, have had a profession earlier than their Liverpool profession. Frimpong has that having been a key a part of Leverkusen’s double-winning facet.
There can be an expectation that he can adapt shortly. Whereas born in Amsterdam and a Netherlands worldwide, Frimpong grew up within the North West of England – solely selecting Manchester Metropolis’s academy over Liverpool’s for the convenience of the commute.
His character offers additional optimism relating to a swift adjustment. It shone by even in these youth days. “He is an interesting character, a really likeable lad,” Gareth Taylor tells Sky Sports activities. “Loads of energy and enthusiasm, on and off the pitch.”
Combating for a profession at Metropolis
Taylor coached Frimpong at growth stage throughout their time collectively at Metropolis. One recreation, specifically, stands out. It was in opposition to Derby County within the FA Youth Cup and Felix Nmecha had been despatched off so the strain was all of a sudden on Taylor’s Metropolis facet.
“We pushed Jeremie from right-back almost up to right-wing in order to get some form of ascendancy when we had the ball. He was outstanding. When Felix left the pitch, the game was a little bit up in the air but Jeremie just tore them apart.” He scored the winner.
That Taylor mentions one explicit recreation is maybe a sign that Frimpong was not the star performer every week in a stacked Metropolis squad. Nmecha himself, now enjoying for Borussia Dortmund and a Germany worldwide, was the extra apparent standout.
“You could always tell that Felix had that potential to kick on. No one probably really saw it with Jeremie. They did not see that he was going to be the one to go and do what he has done in football. I think he has surprised a lot of people by going under the radar.
“It has not been an actual shock to me simply because at any time when we had conferences with the academy supervisor I might inform them that this man just isn’t daunted by any state of affairs. In large video games, he was by no means overawed; he all the time stepped up. His ranges went even greater.”
It is why Taylor sees Frimpong as someone “you all the time wished in your facet” but reaching Pep Guardiola’s first team was no more than a distant dream. “It was most likely fairly clear early on that possibly he was not going to be a participant for Pep,” acknowledges Taylor.
“If something, it most likely helped Jeremie as a result of if the organisation just isn’t too certain on a participant, then that participant might be going to really feel it. So, I feel he was all the time making an attempt to show himself.” Being at the other end of the spectrum can be a problem for players too.
“When you’ve got gamers who’re very well considered they usually comprehend it, that isn’t all the time a very good factor both. I feel Jeremie has all the time needed to battle. He comes from a giant household and I can think about he needed to battle to be heard. He has taken that into his soccer.”
In 2019, Frimpong signed for Celtic. “I feel Jeremie going to Celtic was a lot better for him. It was a terrific transfer. Some gamers need to nearly drop off the radar for a bit after which come again. Earlier than you knew it, he was off to Celtic, enjoying in large video games for them.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Ryan Gravenberch says worldwide colleague Jeremie Frimpong will carry rather a lot to Liverpool
Making a fast influence at Celtic
Frimpong agreed a four-year contract at Celtic however stayed for just one and a half of these seasons. Though he was despatched off in a cup closing in opposition to Rangers at Hampden Park, Celtic went on to win the sport and Frimpong accomplished the treble that season.
Former Celtic favorite Chris Sutton remembers a “bubbly character” who received over the gang together with his electrical tempo. “He was absolutely rapid,” Sutton tells Sky Sports activities. “He has just got that real burst of dynamism over six yards and he can get away from people.”
He provides: “He is a different type of player to Trent. He does not have Trent’s passing range but he is certainly a lot quicker. He has that ability to go past players, which is not one of Trent’s skill sets. One against one, his pace really helps get him out of trouble.”
“That is his biggest asset, that pace, that dynamism. I always felt he was better going forward than he was defensively. In truth, the move to Leverkusen took us by surprise, but he had a good football brain and that ability to get past players in the final third.
“Celtic gave him his alternative after Manchester Metropolis and he impressed in a reasonably brief area of time. In loads of gamers’ careers, you simply want a spark or no matter after which swiftly, it catches fireplace. That’s what occurred with him at Leverkusen.”
Leverkusen success and beyond
There is no doubt that Frimpong added to his game at Leverkusen, helped by finding his niche within Xabi Alonso’s formation. The wing-back role has suited him. “He’s a mix of right-back and right-winger, which most likely explains his success” says Taylor.
“He is excellent in one-against-one conditions, each defensively and offensively as nicely. He actually thrived on having that form of satisfaction at not being overwhelmed defensively, but in addition in beating opponents as nicely. So we used to do loads of one-on-one drills with him.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sam Tighe explains why Liverpool signing Jeremie Frimpong is intelligent enterprise
Such is Frimpong’s dedication that this dedication extends to hiring a person coach when he returns to England to see household in order that he can do additional coaching even throughout these fleeting visits. It’s indicative of an perspective that Liverpool may have famous.
“I think he is a good lad wanting to learn about the game. Usually, with full-backs, you are either a good attacking full-back or brilliant defensively. Jeremie has a good blend of both. But Leverkusen’s style is different to 4-3-3, there is no doubt about that.”
A part of the new-look Liverpool
The curiosity with Frimpong is how his inclusion at right-back may influence the staff. Most clearly, Mohamed Salah’s on-pitch relationship with Alexander-Arnold was a elementary side of Liverpool’s success. Frimpong makes completely different actions.
An overlapping full-back may assist create extra space for Salah to occupy these areas inside or purchase that split-second when reducing onto that left foot. Alternatively, may Frimpong be transferring into zones that Salah would like to need to himself?
That’s the problem for Slot and with Conor Bradley as an alternative choice, he could alter issues on a game-by-game foundation. What is obvious is that Frimpong just isn’t Alexander-Arnold. “He is a completely different profile to Trent, physically and technically,” says Taylor.
Evaluating Jeremie Frimpong’s heatmap with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s warmth map
“The biggest challenge with Jeremie was his concentration. Technically, he would be a four out of 10 or an eight out of 10. He would do stuff and you would think, ‘Come on, Jez, pull yourself together. The next minute, he would do something world-class.
“Whereas Trent, I feel, has been at a really excessive technical stage constantly however there have been questions round his defending. Clearly, Jeremie will get issues mistaken generally however he actually thrives in that problem of the one-against-one state of affairs.
“Again, he had such pace and agility that sometimes he would make a wrong defensive decision but get himself out of trouble with his recovery skills.” Liverpool supporters will welcome that – and on the value, it appears shrewd. “He is a snip for that,” provides Sutton.
“I quite admire him for going in there. Trent’s boots are sizeable to fill and he obviously feels he can go and do it. It is a big opportunity for him to go and show what he can do.” Historical past would recommend that Jeremie Frimpong has a behavior of rising to the problem.
Observe the switch window on Sky Sports activities
The primary of two summer season switch home windows is upon us – and there’s no higher place than Sky Sports activities to get all the most recent switch information and rumours.
Use the Sky Sports activities app and web site to for all of your updates on our devoted Switch Centre and Premier League membership blogs plus stay Q&As with our reporters all through the summer season.
The Switch Present returns to Sky Sports activities Information from Sunday June 1 for the beginning of the pre-Membership World Cup window and can then be on each weeknight at 5pm and 7pm till the deadline on Tuesday June 10.
The summer season switch window will open once more on Monday June 16 till Monday September 1 – with the deadline introduced ahead to 7pm this 12 months.
