Any hope of discovering a like-for-like alternative for Trent Alexander-Arnold was non-existent. He’s a unicorn, a passing full-back like no different. However maybe Arne Slot didn’t need a like-for-like alternative. 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 document of excessive achievement following his vastly profitable three-season keep within the Bundesliga.
Julian Ward, Liverpool’s technical director, has a mantra with regards 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 aspect.
There will likely be an expectation that he can adapt rapidly. 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 benefit of the commute.
His character offers additional optimism concerning a swift adjustment. It shone via even in these youth days. “He’s an attention-grabbing character, a very likeable lad,” Gareth Taylor tells Sky Sports activities. “A great deal of power and enthusiasm, on and off the pitch.”
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Watch a few of Jeremie Frimpong’s finest Bundesliga objectives for Bayer Leverkusen
Preventing for a profession at Metropolis
Taylor coached Frimpong at growth degree 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 stress was abruptly on Taylor’s Metropolis aspect.
“We pushed Jeremie from right-back nearly as much as right-wing so as to get some type of ascendancy after we had the ball. He was excellent. When Felix left the pitch, the sport was slightly bit up within the air however Jeremie simply tore them aside.” He scored the winner.
That Taylor mentions one specific recreation is probably 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 would at all times inform that Felix had that potential to kick on. Nobody in all probability actually noticed it with Jeremie. They didn’t see that he was going to be the one to go and do what he has finished in soccer. I feel he has shocked lots of people by going underneath the radar.
“It has not been an actual shock to me simply because each time we had conferences with the academy supervisor I’d inform them that this man isn’t daunted by any state of affairs. In massive video games, he was by no means overawed; he at all times stepped up. His ranges went even larger.”
It’s why Taylor sees Frimpong as somebody “you at all times wished in your aspect” however reaching Pep Guardiola’s first workforce was not more than a distant dream. “It was in all probability fairly clear early on that perhaps he was not going to be a participant for Pep,” acknowledges Taylor.
“If something, it in all probability helped Jeremie as a result of if the organisation isn’t too certain on a participant, then that participant might be going to really feel it. So, I feel he was at all times attempting to show himself.” Being on the different finish of the spectrum generally is a downside for gamers too.
“When you’ve got gamers who’re rather well considered and so they comprehend it, that’s not at all times a very good factor both. I feel Jeremie has at all times 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 fantastic transfer. Some gamers should nearly drop off the radar for a bit after which come again. Earlier than you knew it, he was off to Celtic, enjoying in massive video games for them.”
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Ryan Gravenberch says worldwide colleague Jeremie Frimpong will carry so much to Liverpool
Making a fast impression 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 gained over the gang along with his electrical tempo. “He was completely speedy,” Sutton tells Sky Sports activities. “He has simply acquired that actual burst of dynamism over six yards and he can get away from individuals.”
He provides: “He’s a unique sort of participant to Trent. He doesn’t have Trent’s passing vary however he’s definitely so much faster. He has that potential to go previous gamers, which isn’t one among Trent’s ability units. One in opposition to one, his tempo actually helps get him out of hassle.”
“That’s his greatest asset, that tempo, that dynamism. I at all times felt he was higher going ahead than he was defensively. In fact, the transfer to Leverkusen took us abruptly, however he had a very good soccer mind and that potential to get previous gamers within the closing third.
“Celtic gave him his alternative after Manchester Metropolis and he impressed in a fairly brief house of time. In loads of gamers’ careers, you simply want a spark or no matter after which abruptly, it catches hearth. That’s what occurred with him at Leverkusen.”
Leverkusen success and past
There is no such thing as a doubt that Frimpong added to his recreation at Leverkusen, helped by discovering his area of interest inside Xabi Alonso’s formation. The wing-back position has suited him. “He’s a mix of right-back and right-winger, which in all probability explains his success” says Taylor.
“He is excellent in one-against-one conditions, each defensively and offensively as effectively. He actually thrived on having that sort of pleasure at not being crushed defensively, but in addition in beating opponents as effectively. So we used to do loads of one-on-one drills with him.”
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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 further coaching even throughout these fleeting visits. It’s indicative of an angle that Liverpool may have famous.
“I feel he is an effective lad desirous to study in regards to the recreation. Often, with full-backs, you might be both a very good attacking full-back or good defensively. Jeremie has a very good mix of each. However Leverkusen’s type is completely different to 4-3-3, there isn’t any doubt about that.”
A part of the new-look Liverpool
The curiosity with Frimpong is how his inclusion at right-back may impression the workforce. Most clearly, Mohamed Salah’s on-pitch relationship with Alexander-Arnold was a basic 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 should himself?
That’s the problem for Slot and with Conor Bradley as another choice, he might modify issues on a game-by-game foundation. What is obvious is that Frimpong isn’t Alexander-Arnold. “He’s a totally completely different profile to Trent, bodily and technically,” says Taylor.
Evaluating Jeremie Frimpong’s heatmap with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s warmth map
“The largest problem with Jeremie was his focus. Technically, he can be a 4 out of 10 or an eight out of 10. He would do stuff and you’ll suppose, ‘Come on, Jez, pull your self collectively. The following minute, he would do one thing world-class.
“Whereas Trent, I feel, has been at a really excessive technical degree constantly however there have been questions round his defending. Clearly, Jeremie will get issues fallacious typically however he actually thrives in that problem of the one-against-one state of affairs.
“Once more, he had such tempo and agility that typically he would make a fallacious defensive determination however get himself out of hassle along with his restoration abilities.” Liverpool supporters will welcome that – and on the value, it appears shrewd. “He’s a snip for that,” provides Sutton.
“I fairly admire him for moving into there. Trent’s boots are sizeable to fill and he clearly feels he can go and do it. It’s a massive alternative for him to go and present what he can do.” Historical past would recommend that Jeremie Frimpong has a behavior of rising to the problem.
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