Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed his departure from Liverpool at the conclusion of his contract this summer, prompting the Premier League champions to seek a replacement right-back. Although sources such as Fabrizio Romano indicate that the club plans to elevate Conor Bradley to the primary position, it remains essential for Liverpool to acquire a new backup player. In this context, recent reports reveal that Arne Slot has identified four potential targets for the upcoming transfer window, with an imminent offer for one player expected.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong appears to be at the top of Slot’s right-back wishlist, with the Dutchman eager to bring his compatriot to Anfield — and the player open to the move himself. The former Manchester City academy star has been an integral part of the successful team Xabi Alonso has built in Germany, and has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United previously.It is believed that the Anfield outfit will send an opening bid worth £34 million for the defender. With personal terms not expected to be an issue, the 24-year-old has become a top priority.
Very few would’ve had Ola Aina down as a potential Liverpool target at the start of the season. However, the Nottingham Forest star, who was once slammed for some shocking performances while at Fulham, has really stepped up as the Garibaldi push for a European place.Aina may suit the role of back-up to Bradley, coming in with more experience when needed. However, the 28-year-old has played his way into many people’s team of the season, so he likely wouldn’t just settle for a seat on the bench.
While many of the headlines coming out of Fiorentina this season have surrounded David de Gea and Moise Kean, it is one of their unsung heroes that Liverpool have been keeping an eye on. The Reds reportedly hold interest in Brazilian defender Dodo as a potential Alexander-Arnold replacement.The 26-year-old, who has never been capped for his country, has been ever-present in Serie A this term, featuring in 32 games. A similar profile to Aina, he would likely take up an identical role if Slot opted for him over the others on this list.
The final man said to be on Richard Hughes’ radar is another Brazilian, this time in the form of AS Monaco’s Vanderson. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that Liverpool have raided the Ligue 1 club for a samba star, and it worked out rather well when it came to Fabinho.At 23, Vanderson is the youngest of the four targets, which might actually mean that Slot would potentially throw him into the starting XI over Bradley, should he adapt to English football and continue to develop on an upward trajectory. Reports in April stated that Monaco would listen to offers of €30m, putting him at a similar value to Frimpong.