Liverpool analysis: How Jeremie Frimpong’s expected arrival could impact Conor Bradley
Jeremie Frimpong looks set to join Liverpool as their first signing of what could be an expensive summer for the newly crowned Premier League champions.
The Dutchman’s 30 goals and 44 assists for Bayer Leverkusen have helped them to three major trophies, including an undefeated Bundesliga campaign last season under Xabi Alonso.
But with Trent Alexander-Arnold ready to board his plane to the Bernabeu, Reds’ right-back Conor Bradley will be hoping he has done enough to earn the starting spot come August.
Transfer News Blitz’s Joe Matthews explores how the imminent arrival of Frimpong could impact the Northern Irishman’s hopes of making the position his own.
Bradley vs Frimpong
The battle for the right-back spot under Arne Slot will no doubt be tightly contested between the two youngsters.
At just 21-years-old, Bradley has made 27 appearances this term, including several impressive Champions League and FA Cup outings, and many believe he has already shown himself as worthy of replacing his outgoing counterpart.
The introduction of Frimpong to the fray does, however, change things.
His attacking output dwarfs Bradley’s – according to FBref, the Leverkusen wing-back has doubled his rival’s goals per 90 (0.22 vs. 0.11) and come close to doubling his assists per 90 (0.24 vs. 0.14) since the start of the 2021/22 season.
That said, if Slot prioritises defensive solidity, he may favour the player who famously halted a Kylian Mbappe breakaway in the Champions League – and who also captained his national team in a 5-0 win over Bulgaria last October.
Over the past four seasons, Conor Bradley has averaged 2.2 tackles per 90 against dribblers, compared to just 0.57 for Frimpong.
Micah Richards weighs in on the selection headache
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, former Manchester City right-back, Micah Richards, discussed Bradley’s situation, saying: “I think he is good enough to be playing week in week out.
“He’s good going forward, and he can do the one-on-one defending as well.
“If Frimpong comes in, he’s coming in as number one, which could be difficult for Bradley to deal with.”
Relating the situation to his time as a professional, he said: “During the takeover at Manchester City, every window we were linked to the best players in the world, and you could just see the confidence in the dressing room fading.
“People were saying, ‘why are they looking at people in my position? I’m good enough’.”
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Slot reminds us of his options
In his press conference ahead of Liverpool’s final away game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Dutchman declined to comment on Frimpong, whose move to the club has yet to be confirmed.
However, he was quick to highlight the quality already within his squad.
He said: “What I can tell you is that we already have Conor Bradley, who can play really well in that position.
“Joe Gomez has played there multiple times; it’s not like with Trent leaving [that] I have no clue what to do anymore.”
Whether it is Bradley or Frimpong that gets the nod next season, their combination with Mohamed Salah is sure to give the left-backs of world football a real headache.
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