Liverpool appear to have hit the jackpot with the signing of defender Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona, as he has made the right-back position his own.
The LaLiga loanee has started eight of the club’s ten matches in the Premier League so far this season, winning 54% of his ground duels and 67% of his aerial duels.
Andoni Iraola‘s side have the option to sign him permanently at the end of the campaign, and his current form suggests that they should already be thinking about exercising that option.
Whilst the Uruguay international is enjoying a terrific start to his career as a right-back at Anfield, Jeremie Frimpong has struggled once again.
Liverpool need to move on from Jeremie Frimpong
The Netherlands international was a curious signing for the Reds when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £29.5m in the summer of 2025, as he had predominantly played as a wing-back in Germany.
There were doubts over how he would adapt to playing in a back four in the Premier League under Arne Slot, and his subsequent struggles justified those doubts.
Frimpong only started 12 of his 21 appearances in the league in the 2025/26 campaign and was utilised as a winger at points, after failing to impress as a full-back.
|
Frimpong (Premier League) |
25/26 |
26/27 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
21 |
5 |
|
Tackles per game |
0.5 |
1.0 |
|
Interceptions per game |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Duels won per game |
2.7 |
1.4 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
50% |
41% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
41% |
0% |
|
Clean sheets |
1 |
0 |
He has lost the majority of his duels in the Premier League since the start of last season, whilst rarely making tackles and interceptions to cut out opposition attacks.
Frimpong recently scored in the 6-3 win over LASK in the Champions League, prior to his hamstring injury, but that should not take away from Liverpool’s need to move on from the defender, who has not been good enough or strong enough domestically.
Liverpool chasing deal for German defender
The Premier League side could move on from the Dutchman by completing a deal for one of their reported targets in the upcoming transfer window.
According to journalist Christian Falk, Liverpool are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Stuttgart right-back Finn Jeltsch in a future transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Reds and Bayern Munich have both sent scouts to watch the Germany international in action, adding that they are expected to keep tabs on his development.
Whilst Iraola is chasing a deal for the versatile defender, who has previously been valued at £42m, Falk also suggests that a move to England may not be the next stop on the 20-year-old’s journey.
Jeltsch can end Frimpong’s Liverpool career
The arrival of Jeltsch at Anfield in January or next summer can end Frimpong’s career at Liverpool, because it would leave the club with enough options in that position to sanction an exit for the former Bundesliga star.
Iraola cannot afford to part ways with the Dutchman unless he has cover in the building, to ensure that Conor Bradley is not rushed back and so that Araujo has competition for his place, which is why a new signing is needed in order to move him on.
With that in mind, Jeltsch should be the player brought in to spell the end of Frimpong’s career with the club, especially given that he has already made a big impression on Jurgen Klopp.
The Germany manager and Liverpool legend recently described the Stuttgart star as an “exceptional” player because of his mix of athleticism and technical quality, which is why he called him up to the national team.
It is easy to understand why the ex-Reds boss raved about the defender because he has been in impressive form in the Bundesliga this season as a versatile star who can play at right-back or centre-back.
|
26/27 Bundesliga |
Finn Jeltsch |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
9 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
1.4 |
|
Dribbled past per game |
0.3x |
|
Clearances per game |
3.9 |
|
Duels won per game |
3.9 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
59% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
56% |
On top of being dominant in his duels in the German top-flight, Jeltsch has won 57% of his duels in two appearances in the Champions League this season.
The Germany international also won 55% of his duels, averaging 1.8 tackles and interceptions per match, across 23 outings in the Bundesliga in the 2025/26 campaign.
Unlike Frimpong, the 20-year-old is a solid out-and-out defender who can be dominant in duels on the ground and in the air, as shown by his form domestically and in Europe for Stuttgart.
As a player who can also play as a centre-back, Jeltsch brings the physicality that Liverpool need in the right-back position, just as Araujo is currently doing.
Therefore, the Reds should push to beat Bayern to his signature in the January transfer window, as it would then allow them to finally move on from Frimpong by adding a more suitable right-back option to the squad.
