'I really wanted to sign for Liverpool after hat-trick - one thing stopped me'

Jeremie Frimpong admitted he wanted to sign for Liverpool, who are now reportedly targeting him, as a youngster before joining Manchester City.

Arne Slot's Reds could be on the hunt for a new right-back this summer if Trent Alexander-Arnold decides to part ways at the end of his contract. The club's vice-captain has not yet put pen to paper on a new deal and is reportedly on Real Madrid's radar for a Bosman transfer.

The Spanish giants had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the defender just before the January transfer window. Although they are not expected to make another offer, he is still eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs as he enters the last six months of his current deal.

If Alexander-Arnold does leave, Conor Bradley is in a good position to fill his boots. However, Liverpool have been linked with other right-backs, including Frimpong. Interestingly, Frimpong has past revealed that he was once close to signing for the Reds but ended up joining Man City due to logistical issues.

The Bayer Leverkusen player joined City's academy at nine years old, despite initially choosing Liverpool over a move to the Etihad after being scouted by both clubs, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"I was playing striker and scored a hat-trick in a final, I won player of the tournament," recounted Frimpong, speaking to Rising Ballers. "There were scouts there like Liverpool, Bolton, Man City and a lot more.

"But I chose Liverpool first. I was going to sign for them, but back then, driving wasn't a thing; my family wasn't driving like that, and it was far. And obviously, Man City was local, so I tried Man City next, and it made more sense. It was 15 minutes on the bus, so yeah."

The defender departed Manchester in 2019 after nine years in Cityzens blue, heading up to Scotland with Celtic. Frimpong made waves with his debut for Celtic in September 2019 at just 18 years of age and would win the club's fourth treble in a row under Neil Lennon.

In 2021, he would move on from the Scottish Premiership - with Celtic's Young Player of the Year award in his back pocket - and sign for Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee.

Just two years later, his contract was extended until 2028, and he became a regular first-team player under Xabi Alonso. Frimpong's marauding along the right flank was pivotal as Leverkusen sealed an unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga season, winning the league and a DFB Pokal to boot.