Liverpool identify Frimpong alternative as Leverkusen express frustration

Liverpool are considering Lutsharel Geertruida as an alternative option to Jeremie Frimpong as they intensify their summer recruitment drive.

Frimpong, the Bayer Leverkusen right back, has indicated that he would want to come to Anfield if Liverpool want to pursue a move and the fact he had a release clause would make this an attractive deal for a player of his undisputed quality.

Frimpong's name has been heavily trailed to this point as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold but Fernando Carro, Leverkusen's Managing Director, is unhappy about the level of speculation.

'Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, which also has an exit clause, but we are currently unaware of any transfer,' Carro stressed.

But it is not Liverpool's style to just focus on one individual and Geertruida is a serious possibility, not least because he was such an influential figure for Arne Slot when the pair were winning trophies together at Feyenoord.

Geertruida has the capacity to play as a right back, a right-sided central defender and, most significantly, can step into midfield and be used as a fifth man in that area – it is something he used to do to great effect in the Eredivise.

Such was Slot's reliance on Geertruida, many in the Netherlands envisaged a situation where he would become the Liverpool head coach's first Anfield signing 12 months ago but the 24-year-old ended up moving to RB Leipzig. He signed a contract to 2029 when he arrived last August.

A player well known to – and rated by – Liverpool's Dutch contingent of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, Geertruida has been capped by his country on 16 occasions and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

The Premier League champions have always enjoyed a healthy business relationship with RB Leipzig, having bought Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szboszslai from them in recent seasons, but nothing has advanced beyond interest at present.