Jeremie Frimpong looks set to become Liverpool’s replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold and club chiefs could hand the Bayer Leverkusen man a perfect welcome gift should he arrive at Anfield
Jeremie Frimpong could face a tricky decision once he arrives at Liverpool. The Reds look set to make a move for the Dutchman having decided to activate a release clause written into his contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
Once the formalities of the deal have been completed, Frimpong will then have to pick the shirt number he wants to don as a Red. The most obvious selection would be the number 30 shirt.
The 24-year-old has worn that number with former club Celtic, and during his entire stint in Germany. And fortunately for him, it is currently vacant at Anfield - and has been for around a decade.
The last occupant of Liverpool’s number 30 shirt was Spanish wideman Suso. He was given the shirt upon his initial breakthrough into the first team but he made a total of just 21 appearances for the club, scoring once, before leaving permanently for AC Milan in 2014.
It has remained vacant ever since. While Frimpong looks likely to snap it up, there still appears to be some work to do to get him to Anfield.
Speaking earlier this week, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro claimed that a deal was not imminent. Speaking to German outlet SPORT, he said: "Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, he also has a release clause, but we are not aware of a move at the moment.
"The rumours surprised me a bit when I started in the football business seven years ago. Gradually, I've been there longer, there are always different interested parties, there are different parties, there are different relationships.
"It's actually quite difficult to find out where the rumours come from, but I have to say, there are many that really surprise me."
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Frimpong could potentially be joined by one of his current teammates at Anfield should he move this summer. Liverpool also have an interest in playmaker Florian Wirtz, as do Premier League rivals Manchester City who see him as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.
The German international could also be set to wear his dream shirt number on Merseyside. His shirt number with Bayer Leverkusen - 27 - is currently vacant at Anfield following Darwin Nunez’s decision to switch to nine.
Both Frimpong and Wirtz would carry a lofty price tag should they become Liverpool stars. The former has a £30m release clause written into his deal, while Wirtz is reportedly valued at around £120m.