Liverpool didn’t need another problem area. Yet here they are, staring at a specialist-position shortage with the calendar doing them no favours. Liverpool F.C. have been forced into late-window thinking after Jeremie Frimpong suffered a fresh muscle setback in midweek, a blow that leaves him sidelined for “a few weeks” and instantly compresses the club’s options on the right side of defence.
The injury itself was a reminder of how quickly plans can unravel. Frimpong pulled up early during the 6–0 Champions League win over Qarabag and had to come off. The first feeling around the club was concern; the later message was slightly more reassuring, but still damaging: the timeline is not catastrophic, just inconvenient at the worst possible moment. Head coach Arne Slot confirmed the absence will run into weeks rather than days.
Why this is suddenly a “market” problem, not just an injury problem
Liverpool’s squad can cover many injuries with smart rotation. Right-back is not one of those areas right now. With the fixture list tightening and the stakes rising, “we’ll patch it internally” becomes a risk calculation, not a brave statement.
The context matters. Liverpool are sixth in the league and chasing stability after a difficult run, while also needing to keep momentum in Europe. Reuters reported they are winless in their last five Premier League games and sit 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, which tells you the margin for error is already thin. If you then remove your specialist right-back, the pressure doesn’t just rise—it shifts onto every phase of play: build-up patterns, defensive transitions, and how aggressively your right winger can stay high.
This is exactly why names like Denzel Dumfries are suddenly being discussed. Not because Liverpool woke up and fancied a new toy, but because a specialist role has become a short-term operational gap.
The Dumfries angle: what’s actually being reported
Multiple outlets now describe Liverpool as having made contact with Inter Milan to ask about Dumfries, with Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio cited as the key reference point. Importantly, this is being framed as an enquiry—information gathering—rather than a done deal. But in the final days of the window, an enquiry is often the first domino. If Liverpool believe they can get clarity on price, timing, and medical readiness fast, discussions can move from “checking conditions” to “moving pieces” in hours.
And those hours matter. The Premier League has confirmed that this winter window closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday, February 2 (which aligns with 2 p.m. ET), an adjusted earlier deadline compared to past seasons. With today being January 30, that effectively means Liverpool are operating in a short sprint—medical assessments, registration paperwork, and the inevitable late-window premium all squeezed into one weekend.
The biggest complication: Dumfries’ own fitness
Here’s where it gets tricky and where Liverpool cannot afford guesswork. Dumfries has been recovering from an ankle injury, and the latest reporting around Inter suggests his return could be sooner than initially expected—but he is still working back toward full availability. Some reports suggest a mid-February target for a return, which raises a blunt question: if Liverpool need minutes at right-back immediately, are they buying an instant solution—or a February solution?
That doesn’t automatically kill the idea. Clubs do late-window deals for strategic reasons all the time, especially if the player fits the system and the pricing becomes favourable. But it changes the decision logic. If Dumfries can’t start games right away, Liverpool must still survive the next few fixtures using internal cover—meaning the transfer becomes about stabilising the next two months rather than rescuing the next two matches.
Tactical fit: similar lane, different weapon
On the surface, you can see why Liverpool would look at him. Both Dumfries and Frimpong operate in the modern “right-sided runner” lane: high stamina, repeated forward surges, and output in the final third.
But they bring different tools. Frimpong is the explosive accelerator—sharp over short distances, ideal for quick combinations and sudden bursts into the channel. Dumfries is more of a power runner—stronger in duels, more comfortable arriving at the back post, and often looking like an extra attacker when his team floods the box. That profile can translate well to English football, but it can also require small adjustments in build-up and rest defence, depending on how high he’s asked to play.
For Slot, the real question is not “who is better?” It’s “who can give us reliable minutes without forcing a system rebuild?”
Inter’s side: would they even sell this late?
A late-window move only works if the selling club has leverage—or a plan. Inter would need to consider replacements and squad balance, especially with their own domestic and European targets. Some reporting suggests Inter have looked at alternative right-sided options, which is relevant because it’s often the clearest sign a door could open.
But “could open” is not “will open.” If Inter decide the timing is wrong, Liverpool will have to pivot: either accept internal solutions until Frimpong returns, or look for a different short-term option entirely.
What happens next: Liverpool’s decision tree
Liverpool’s next 72 hours are basically a two-track plan:
- Internal cover + risk management: keep the structure stable, protect the right side, and get through matches while waiting for Frimpong’s recovery to fall on the shorter end of “a few weeks.”
- Market intervention: add a right-sided defender who can take meaningful minutes, accepting that deadline-day deals are expensive, messy, and rarely perfect.
The window closing at 19:00 GMT on February 2 means there’s no room for slow negotiation. If Liverpool push for Dumfries, it will likely look decisive and fast—or it won’t happen at all.
One thing is clear: what started as “an injury update” has become a strategic test of Liverpool’s squad planning under stress. And the right-back spot—normally a detail you only notice when it fails—has suddenly become the headline.
