Liverpool are set to finally beat Chelsea to a key transfer target - even if this time, it appears to be a one-horse race.

The Reds are keen on Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.

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Alonso described Frimpong as a 'key' and 'special difference' makerCredit: Getty

Europan football expert Kevin Hatchard told talkSPORT's Hawskbee & Baker: "He's incredibly attack-minded, but Arne Slot is an excellent coach, and I'm sure he would have a plan for how to use him best."

Liverpool open talks with Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong	Liverpool set to hand over $9M boost amid Jeremie Frimpong transfer clause	Liverpool set to hand over $7M boost amid Jeremie Frimpong transfer clause

Now it appears the deal is close with the Merseysiders looking to meet the star’s £33.6million release clause.

And this time, Chelsea have no desire to swoop in and snatch a Romeo Lavia or Moises Caicedo from under their rivals' noses.

That is despite Frimpong once picking the Stamford Bridge outfit when asked by Sport BILD to name his dream club.

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“Was actually always Chelsea FC,” he said when quizzed about his fantasy transfer in 2022.

“As a kid, I used to watch Chelsea games with my uncle, mostly because of Didier Drogba.”

However, three years on, Frimpong's long-awaited return to England will bring him full circle with the club he almost joined as a child.

Born in Amsterdam as the fifth child of seven, Frimpong made his way to Manchester in 2007 when he was six and started starring for AFC Clayton and Clayton Villa boys' clubs.

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During that tenure, the defender played up front for his local team, banging in goals on the incentives his brother was offering him.

“I used to tell him, ‘You score this amount of goals, I’ll buy you this, I’ll take you there’,” Frimpong’s older brother, Jeffrey, told The Athletic.

Fastest Bundesliga defenders 2024-2025Jeremie Frimpong - 36.34 (KM/H)Alphonso Davies - 36.24Tim Oermann - 35.97Max Rosenfelder - 35.91Christian Gunter - 35.87Piero Hincapie - 35.84

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Frimpong has scored five goals and had six assists in 33 Bundesliga appearancesCredit: Getty

“The PS3 came out around that time, and I used to tell him, ‘If you score three goals, then mum and I will put money towards buying you a PS3’.

“I was telling him this for like four months, and basically, every game, he’d score a hat-trick.

I didn’t need to tell him any more to do anything.”

Frimpong's form led to Liverpool vying for his services, but logistical issues saw him sign for Man City at the age of nine instead.

He told Rising Ballers: "I was playing striker and scored a hat-trick in a final, I won player of the tournament.

There were scouts there like Liverpool, Bolton, Man City and a lot more were present.

"But I chose Liverpool first.

It was 15 minutes on the bus, so yeah."

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Frimpong was part of the same Man City academy side as FodenCredit: Getty

Frimpong became part of an illustrious City U18's outfit alongside Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden, before continuing to impress with the U23s in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League.

Frimpong told the Mail: "My mates were going out and I was like: 'Sorry, I have to sleep because I have football in the morning.' My sister got engaged to be married, and I had to miss the engagement party with the family because I had a game the next day.

"I felt sad about that one, but if you want to be a footballer, it's a sacrifice you have to be prepared to make.

The higher the level you go to, the less you see of your family."

Frimpong never managed a minute for the senior City side, yet caught the attention of then Celtic-boss Neil Lennon after impressing in a friendly win over the Hoops' development side in 2019.

A £350,000 deal - rising to £1million with add-ons - was swiftly agreed, with Frimpong admitting 'City will always be in my heart'.

I'm not English, I'm Dutch."

Read More on talkSPORT

He may have to amend that phrase upon his arrival in Liverpool, after going viral for greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a Merseyside accent.

He's not English - but Frimpong will soon be scouse...


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