Latest news with #AlexanderArnold
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Frimpong is going to be an incredible watch'
Dan Clubbe from Redmen TV says it will be "fascinating" to watch new Liverpool signing Jeremie Frimpong, who he belies has "world-class qualities".Frimpong's arrival was announced just hours after the club confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be joining Real Madrid, but the Dutch international will offer a different kind of threat for Arne Slot's side."To replace Alexander-Arnold with another right-back who has caught the eye, garnered attention across Europe and won the Bundesliga as a key part of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen side is a a really shrewd and smart signing," Clubbe said."The release clause is £30m - he's worth double that. You could buy him for £30m and sell him for £60m the next day, that's the quality of footballer we're talking about."He'll be fascinating to watch. He's a right-back in name only really in many aspects. Not many elite teams across Europe play with wing-backs so unless you follow Xabi Alonso round your whole career what are you going to do next? "He wants to be viewed as a right-back but make no mistake he's going to be an incredible watch. He's going to be really fun and exciting because he's got raw pace, he wants to be involved in attacking situations and will play with desire and freedom to get forward. "Trent was different, he played in a standing still position and sprayed passes a lot of the time whereas Frimpong is essentially just a right-sided footballer who can play as a winger. If we don't supplement Mo Salah this summer, he will miss games through AFCON and Frimpong could be very important then."Liverpool have signed someone who may not be in the world-class bracket yet but has world-class qualities."Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
What makes Frimpong different to Alexander-Arnold?
German football expert Kevin Hatchard has outlined the differences between Liverpool's latest right-back signing Jeremie Frimpong and the departed Trent Alexander-Arnold."They're very different in the way they interpret the position," Hatchard told BBC Radio Merseyside. "If you look at the way Trent Alexander-Arnold plays, he's very much a passer, somebody who will send the ball in from different angles."You look at Frimpong and he's a carrier. He uses his pace, tries to get beyond people and make space that way. So, they're both attack-minded but they interpret it in a very different way."If you look at Frimpong's strengths, he's quick, he carries the ball well and he's added goals to his game in recent seasons. He's versatile and he has worked hard on the defensive part of his game, but he probably has a lot of work to do in that regard as well."He's a very energetic and lively team-mate and he's a lot of fun. But I think this Bayer Leverkusen spell has been so instructive for him, playing for a coach like Xabi Alonso, becoming a leader, somebody who's performed well not only in the Bundesliga but the Champions League as well. "We've seen him grow and become more much consistent."Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds here
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Jeremie Frimpong
Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have struck a verbal agreement for right-back Jeremie Frimpong (24) to join the Premier League champions, according to Sports Zone. The outlet understands that both clubs and the Dutch international have found a total agreement. Frimpong was reportedly Arne Slot's primary target to replace the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool Academy graduate has announced he will leave his formative club at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold is expected to put pen to paper over a long-term deal with Real Madrid. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will allow the England international to link up with Los Merengues for the Club World Cup in exchange for a transfer fee. Advertisement Liverpool have moved swiftly to replace Alexander-Arnold as they will trigger Frimpong's €35m release clause. Under Uefa regulations, the 24-year-old right-back would count as a homegrown player due to his past as a Manchester City graduate. The Dutch international is set to link up at Anfield with fellow Oranje Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo. GFFN | Bastien Cheval
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
How will Jeremie Frimpong fit into Arne Slot's Liverpool line-up?
Liverpool haven't taken long to find their supposed replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Jeremie Frimpong, 24, has completed his Anfield switch after three-and-a-half glorious years at Bayer Leverkusen, where under the tutelage of ex-Reds maestro Xabi Alonso, he helped guide the German outfit to a historic unbeaten domestic double in 2023/24. He signs for £29.5m after Liverpool activated his release clause - a bargain of a fee, given the fact he has been one of the best on the globe in his position for the past two or so years. However, what exactly is his position? And how will he fit in Arne Slot 's system? On the surface, Frimpong does not look like the perfect fit for Slot's four-back system. He thrived as a marauding wing-back beside Alonso's back three and was more of a winger than a defender. In fact, his average positioning last season was far more similar to Mohamed Salah than it was to Alexander-Arnold. While much was made of Alexander-Arnold's defending capabilities during his eight-year run in Liverpool's first team, the 26-year-old did take up a considerably deeper role than previously under Jurgen Klopp this season, with Slot valuing defensive security the constant overlapping option. Whereas with Frimpong, one of his main eye-catching qualities is his forward movement. He has lightning pace, and he is not afraid to use it - recording the second most sprints in the German top flight this season. Frimpong's ability to carry the ball forward down the right has proved pivotal to Alonso across the past two seasons and it's led to him racking up a fair number of goal contributions from his position, with 19 goals and 24 assists in all competitions since the beginning of 2023/24. Last term, the Dutchman recorded 109 long progressive carries - which requires a player to move with the ball up the field by at least 10m - while Alexander-Arnold managed just 63 in the Premier League, as per Opta. But what the Englishman has perhaps lacked in pace, he makes up with his passing range, something Frimpong can't exactly match. It's clear to see that Frimpong for Alexander-Arnold is not a like-for-like change at right-back. When looking at him, the Dutchman seems more like right-wing reinforcements for Salah. However, Frimpong is not a winger who has been made accustomed to a more defensive position over time, akin to a Juan Cuadrado type. Much of his early career at Celtic and the Manchester City academy saw him utilised as a full-back in a defensive four. While his best years at Leverkusen came at wing-back, he spent much of his first two seasons at the BayArena at right-back, in which he averaged 1.6 tackles per 90, 0.6 interceptions and won possession 4.8 times per 90. He is a capable defender, and it's why his arrival is unlikely to spark a systemic change for Slot. However, given his recent regularity of all but playing on the wing for club and country, whether he is thrown straight into Slot's back four is up for debate. We can see him starting the season as second fiddle to Alexander-Arnold's long-time understudy Conor Bradley. Bradley, 21, has a fight on his hands if he is to become Liverpool's bona fide starter at right-back following Alexander-Arnold's departure. He shouldn't take Frimpong's arrival as a slight on his ability, though - competition and depth in quality is healthy for title-calibre squads. And it's clear he has the faith of the club, having just been handed a four-year contract extension. The Northern Irishman, a far more natural, defensively-strong right-back than Frimpong, knows the system and could start the season as the preferred option while Frimpong beds himself in to new surroundings. It's not unprecedented to see future Liverpool mainstays see their minutes limited during the early stages of their Anfield tenure - the likes of Andy Robertson and Fabinho took months to earn their place as a regular starter under Klopp. Whether Slot takes a similar approach to let Frimpong adapt, given the apparent playstyle clash, is yet to be seen. And while the fee obviously isn't everything, Frimpong's price tag hardly represents that of an immediate starter. Just shy of £30m, he surely arrives knowing minutes are not guaranteed. As such, he could end up starting the season as rotational support for both Bradley and Salah, with an eye to locking down right-back down the line. Analysing the Slot system, Frimpong seems to be in this position of limbo when looking at where he's thrived most over the past two years. However, what Slot proved within the first couple games of his tenure on Merseyside was his transformational powers. The reinvention of a raw, attacking-minded Ryan Gravenberch into one of the best defensive midfield playmakers in the world was nothing short of remarkable. Gravenberch, countryman and close friend to Frimpong, will no doubt have relayed the wonders that Slot, another Dutchman, can do. Although there remain question marks over Frimpong's role, we should expect them to be answered soon enough. Liverpool's has been all but flawless in recent times - Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards seem to know what they're doing. Whether a surprise tactical shift is in the offing or not, Liverpool will have a clear idea on how they can mould Frimpong into the player they require as they look to successfully defend their Premier League title.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Alexander-Arnold x Bellingham: The bromance set for Real Madrid
A version of this article was originally published in November 2024. We've all seen the smiles and mutual affection when Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold are together. The running joke within the England camp is that the pair are inseparable. They often sit next to each other at meal time or on the coach to games and if one is seen without the other, playful questions are asked about the absence of the missing half. Advertisement When Liverpool faced Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield in November, the individual battle between Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham was one of the most fascinating pre-match sub-plots, although Alexander-Arnold eventually did not come off the bench as he returned from injury. There was the expected on-field tussle between two of England's brightest talents, of course, but also their shared ambition to become the best in the world and, perhaps most pointedly, the backdrop of Alexander-Arnold's uncertain future at the time. The 26-year-old was out of contract this summer and is now set to complete his move to Madrid, who have agreed to pay Liverpool €10million (£8.4m; $11.4m) to sign him early, linking him up with his best friend in football. Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham may be close, but that does not mean they are the same characters. At Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold tended not to fit into one particular clique. As a part of the club's leadership group, he tended to straddle social groups, being close to Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, in particular. Before his departure in 2023, Jordan Henderson was another good friend. Bellingham, who has just completed his second season at Madrid, having moved there from Borussia Dortmund in June 2023, is close to Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, Rodygo, Brahim Diaz and Aurelien Tchouameni among others. In Madrid, little is known about Bellingham's social life. Early in his time there, he visited De Maria restaurant, one of the city's most famous, with fellow new signings Arda Guler and Diaz, but he largely keeps a low profile. He is supported closely by his mother, Denise, and has spent time back in Birmingham and the surrounding area on international breaks. His friendship with Alexander-Arnold, however, continues to blossom, and last summer it became a key theme during England's run to the final of Euro 2024. When Bellingham scored England's opening goal of Euro 2024, he dropped to one knee along with Alexander-Arnold before both covered their faces with their hands. It was later explained that the celebration was an in-joke around the card game, Werewolf, that members of the team play for fun during down time. ⚪ @TrentAA 🤝 @BellinghamJude ⚪ — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 30, 2025 England's official social media channels played on their friendship. The pair took part in the Football Association's Lions' Den YouTube show during the Euros, playing a 'how well do you know each other?' competition, which they giggled their way through. During a round of questions submitted by supporters, both players said they would like Denzel Washington to play them in a movie of all their lives. In October, Bellingham also surprised Alexander-Arnold by jumping out from behind a sign reading 'Happy Birthday Trent' at England's training base at St. George's Park, a moment an FA photographer duly recorded for posterity. The friendship between two of the country's bright young things is an unquestionably useful marketing tool for the FA, but there is also no doubt that it is founded on genuine affection. Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham like to socialise together after international games too, and have been on holiday as part of a larger group in the past. After the European Championship last summer they both went to Los Angeles for a break. Advertisement Yet underpinning their friendship is a steely competitiveness. When the pair meet up at England camps, there's a fierce desire to outdo one another and win, whether during training drills or practice games. In the Lions' Den show, they were asked which was the most competitive. True to form, they each chose themselves and argued afterwards about their reasons. They have plenty to be competitive about. Bellingham has taken a very different path to Alexander-Arnold, who has only ever played for Liverpool, having graduated through the club's academy. His friend, however, has had a carefully calibrated career progression — from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund and Madrid. Between them they have won three league titles, three domestic cups and two Champions Leagues. In 2023, Bellingham won the Ballon d'Or Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best footballer aged 21 or under, becoming the first Englishman to do so. Last year, he finished third in the overall voting. Alexander-Arnold, for his part, also has his eyes on that prize. 'I believe I can [win the Ballon d'Or],' he told Sky Sports last year. 'I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.' It is clear the pair have much in common. Now they will have the chance to fulfil their grand ambitions at the same club.
