Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool: Bayer Leverkusen wing-back could be very totally different to Trent Alexander-Arnold however can thrive | Soccer Information

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 desire a like-for-like alternative. Jeremie Frimpong brings totally different qualities.

The discharge clause in Frimpong’s Bayer Leverkusen contract was set at £29.5m and that represents worth for Liverpool. This can be 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 in the case of 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 shall be an expectation that he can adapt shortly. 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 persona gives additional optimism concerning a swift adjustment. It shone by even in these youth days. “He’s an attention-grabbing character, a extremely likeable lad,” Gareth Taylor tells Sky Sports activities. “A great deal of power and enthusiasm, on and off the pitch.”

Preventing for a profession at Metropolis

Taylor coached Frimpong at improvement stage throughout their time collectively at Metropolis. One recreation, particularly, stands out. It was in opposition to Derby County within the FA Youth Cup and Felix Nmecha had been despatched off so the strain was all of the sudden on Taylor’s Metropolis aspect.

“We pushed Jeremie from right-back virtually as much as right-wing to be able to get some type of ascendancy after we had the ball. He was excellent. When Felix left the pitch, the sport was a bit bit up within the air however Jeremie simply tore them aside.” He scored the winner.

That Taylor mentions one explicit recreation is maybe a sign that Frimpong was not the star performer every week in a stacked Metropolis squad. Nmecha himself, now taking part in for Borussia Dortmund and a Germany worldwide, was the extra apparent standout.

“You can 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 achieved in soccer. I feel he has stunned lots of people by going below the radar.

“It has not been an actual shock to me simply because at any time when we had conferences with the academy supervisor I’d inform them that this man just isn’t daunted by any state of affairs. In large video games, he was by no means overawed; he at all times stepped up. His ranges went even greater.”

It’s why Taylor sees Frimpong as somebody “you at all times wished in your aspect” however reaching Pep Guardiola’s first staff 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 just isn’t too positive on a participant, then that participant might be going to really feel it. So, I feel he was at all times making an attempt 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 they usually realize it, that’s not at all times a great factor both. I feel Jeremie has at all times needed to struggle. He comes from a giant household and I can think about he needed to struggle 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 an amazing transfer. Some gamers need to virtually drop off the radar for a bit after which come again. Earlier than you knew it, he was off to Celtic, taking part in in large video games for them.”

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 remaining 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 fast,” Sutton tells Sky Sports activities. “He has simply obtained 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 actually lots faster. He has that capability to go previous gamers, which isn’t one among Trent’s talent 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 reality, the transfer to Leverkusen took us without warning, however he had a great soccer mind and that capability to get previous gamers within the remaining third.

“Celtic gave him his alternative after Manchester Metropolis and he impressed in a fairly brief house of time. In plenty of gamers’ careers, you simply want a spark or no matter after which impulsively, it catches hearth. That’s what occurred with him at Leverkusen.”

Leverkusen success and past

There isn’t any doubt that Frimpong added to his recreation at Leverkusen, helped by discovering his area of interest inside Xabi Alonso’s formation. The wing-back function has suited him. “He’s a mix of right-back and right-winger, which in all probability explains his success” says Taylor.

“He is superb in one-against-one conditions, each defensively and offensively as properly. He actually thrived on having that form of delight at not being crushed defensively, but in addition in beating opponents as properly. So we used to do plenty of one-on-one drills with him.”

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 could have famous.

“I feel he is an efficient lad desirous to study concerning the recreation. Often, with full-backs, you’re both a great attacking full-back or sensible defensively. Jeremie has a great mix of each. However Leverkusen’s model is totally different to 4-3-3, there isn’t a doubt about that.”

A part of the new-look Liverpool

The curiosity with Frimpong is how his inclusion at right-back would possibly impression the staff. Most clearly, Mohamed Salah’s on-pitch relationship with Alexander-Arnold was a elementary facet of Liverpool’s success. Frimpong makes totally different actions.

An overlapping full-back would possibly assist create more room for Salah to occupy these areas inside or purchase that split-second when chopping onto that left foot. Alternatively, would possibly Frimpong be transferring into zones that Salah would favor to need to himself?

That’s the problem for Slot and with Conor Bradley as an alternative choice, he could alter issues on a game-by-game foundation. What is evident is that Frimpong just isn’t Alexander-Arnold. “He’s a very totally different profile to Trent, bodily and technically,” says Taylor.

“The largest problem with Jeremie was his focus. Technically, he could 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 stage persistently 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 choice 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 entering into there. Trent’s boots are sizeable to fill and he clearly feels he can go and do it. It’s a large 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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