Liverpool eye Dumfries and Geertruida as Slot plans right-back reinforcement
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is targeting a summer move for a new right-back, with Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries and Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida under consideration, according to a TeamTalk report. The club is seeking to bolster a position that has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent form this season, with both players previously linked with a switch to Anfield during the January window.
The need for reinforcement is said to be pressing. Jeremie Frimpong, signed last summer, has struggled with injuries and form, contributing only two goals and two assists in 31 appearances. Academy graduate Conor Bradley has been sidelined long-term with a serious injury, forcing midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo to deputise in the role at times. While Bradley is expected to be fit for pre-season, the club appears ready to add experienced competition.
Dumfries, the 29-year-old Netherlands international, presents a known quantity with a straightforward exit clause. His contract at Inter contains a release clause valued at €25 million, a figure that aligns closely with his Estimated Transfer Value of €25.1m. The experienced defender, who has won Serie A and the Europa League with Inter, would add significant defensive robustness and aerial presence to Slot's options.
The alternative is Lutsharel Geertruida, currently impressing on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig. The 24-year-old Dutch defender has made 28 Premier League appearances for the Black Cats this season. His move would be contingent on Sunderland not exercising a reported €23 million purchase option in his loan deal, potentially allowing Liverpool to negotiate directly with Leipzig.
The pursuit of either player suggests a potential departure for Frimpong. With an Estimated Transfer Value of €59.7m, selling the former Bayer Leverkusen wing-back could finance the arrival of either Dumfries or Geertruida while generating a significant profit for the club's transfer kitty. It would also streamline a squad that currently lacks a clear, reliable first-choice in the position.
Slot's continued build-up of a Dutch core at Anfield is another notable subtext. The squad already includes captain Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Frimpong. Adding another Netherlands international, whether Dumfries or Geertruida, would further shape the team in his image. The coming months will determine which path the club chooses as it aims to solidify its defensive right flank ahead of the new campaign.
