Latest news with #XabiAlonso
The Independent
2 hours 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.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Real Madrid open contract talks for starlet as Xabi Alonso picks two youngsters for Club World Cup
The appointment of Xabi Alonso has been met with plenty of optimism at Real Madrid, who are ready for fresh impetus after an exhausting season. In particular, the arrival of Alonso appears to have given fresh hope to La Fabrica products that they will be able to break into the first team. Raul Asencio is the first to crack the senior squad since Nacho Fernandez without a move away first, but his breakout season was a consequence of desperation. However Alonso's record of using young players seems to open the door more than under Carlo Ancelotti. Certainly the Basque manager is setting out his stall the right way. Two young talents to go to Club World Cup As revealed by Diario AS, Diego Aguado (18) and Jesus Fortea (18) will travel to the Club World Cup with Real Madrid in June. Aguado featured earlier this season in the Copa del Rey, and can play as either a left-back or a central defender. Meanwhile Fortea, recruited from Atletico Madrid at the age of 15, has been described as one of the brightest talents in Spanish football at right-back. Full-backs David Jimenez, Lorenzo Aguado and Yusi could also travel, but a decision has yet to be made. Image via Real Madrid Real Madrid open contract talks with Fortea Despite how highly he is rated, Fortea was beginning to have doubts about his progression, and Como in Serie A have taken an interest in recruiting him. That was due to the fact that Raul Gonzalez was not using him for the Castilla side, and neither did Ancelotti show faith during their injury crisis. Now with his under-19s manager Alvaro Arbeloa taking over at Castilla, and Alonso the senior job, Fortea has more faith, and The Athletic say Los Blancos have opened contract talks with Fortea again, which were put on hold earlier in the year.
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Real Madrid signs Alexander-Arnold
The right-back will play for the club until 2031. (AFP pic) MADRID : Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday. The 26-year-old England international's contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup. Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019. He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club. The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti. Alexander-Arnold's close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season. But, after club figures, including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah, urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool's success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday. The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season. Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank. Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position. Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami. Real Madrid have also signed Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season.
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Real Madrid begin talks to renew teenager Jesus Fortea's contract
Real Madrid have opened talks to renew teenage defender Jesus Fortea's contract. Following Alvaro Arbeloa's promotion to coach Real Madrid Castilla (the club's reserve team), both parties are now keen to extend the 18-year-old's deal. Fortea's situation has changed after doubts around his future saw him not called up to former first team manager Carlo Ancelotti's first team last season or former Castilla manager Raul's side. Advertisement The Spaniard was overlooked despite Dani Carvajal having been ruled out with a serious knee injury earlier in the season and his deputy and Lucas Vazquez struggling at times in that position, with Ancelotti favoring to play Federico Valverde at right-back over the teenager. A highly rated full-back, Real Madrid broke the 'non-aggression' pact with Atletico Madrid at academy level to sign him in 2022. Arbeloa replacing Raul is said to be key in the new negotiations. It is expected that Fortea will be part of the new first team manager Xabi Alonso's Club World Cup squad. Fortea made 14 appearances in all competitions for Real's reserve team laswt season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in eight UEFA Youth Legaue games.
Evening Standard
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Liverpool FC sign Jeremie Frimpong as Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement after £109m Florian Wirtz bid
The versatile Frimpong can also play on the wing and excelled during four-and-a-half years at Leverkusen, scoring 30 goals and laying on 44 assists in 190 total appearances across all competitions as a key member of the side who came so close to securing a memorable trophy treble under Xabi Alonso last season, winning both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup before losing to Atalanta in the Europa League final.
