Liverpool were 'bonkers' to complete summer transfer after alarming warning was sent

Jeremie Frimpong has endured a slow start to his Liverpool career since joining from Bayer Leverkusen, and it has emerged that one former Reds player even received an ominous warning over his ability

Stephen Warnock has shared an ominous warning he received about Jeremie Frimpong after Liverpool snapped up the defender in the summer. The Reds triggered the Dutch international's £29m buyout clause to sign him from Bayer Leverkusen, with the full-back helping to fill the gap left by Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old made an impressive start, scoring on his Liverpool debut against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley. However, since then, he and several other of the Reds' summer signings have struggled to hit their stride.

Frimpong's Premier League debut was marred by a hamstring injury during a match against AFC Bournemouth, sidelining him until after the September international break.

He made a triumphant return as a late substitute in a match against Burnley, securing a penalty that led to Liverpool's last-minute 1-0 victory at Turf Moor. However, he has since had a patchy presence in Arne Slot's team.

So far, he has made eight appearances and started five times for the Reds. But he hasn't been in the starting line-up for a Premier League match since his first game in England's top-flight against Bournemouth.

An unused substitute in matches against Everton and Chelsea, he also hasn't played in at right-back position since he seemed to be singled out by Slot for his part in Crystal Palace's winning goal against Liverpool at the end of September.

He has instead been deployed in a more advanced right-wing position, getting the nod ahead of Mohamed Salah against Galatasaray before coming on for the Egyptian late in the match against Manchester United, with Dominik Szoboszlai controversially shifted to full-back to accommodate him.

Renowned for his adaptability, Frimpong spent most of his Leverkusen career operating as a wing-back rather than a traditional full-back.

Former Liverpool defender Warnock has now voiced his concerns about the Dutchman, revealing he was told the Reds had swapped Alexander-Arnold, often slated for his defensive frailties, with someone even less capable at the back.

"He played as a wing-back for Leverkusen and in the high right position," he said on BBC Sport's Monday Night Club. "He never played the right of a three at the back because he's not a defender.

"A lot of my mates are coaches and when he signed, my mate turned around and said that Liverpool have got rid of someone who can't defend and replaced him with someone who can't defend even more.

"Conor Bradley was always going to be first-choice this season. But he is inconsistent.

"People will understand now how good Trent was and how consistent. Frimpong was signed as a utility player, not a defender. He is not a defender."

On the same programme, Chris Sutton launched a scathing attack on both the Frimpong transfer and Slot's choice to deploy Szoboszlai at right-back.

"The right-back situation is a mess," Sutton declared. "Szoboszlai has been their best midfielder, so playing him there kills him.

"And Frimpong, how can you spend that money on a right back who can't really play there? It's bonkers. Defensively I am concerned about Liverpool."