Arsenal and Liverpool scout impressive Bundesliga duo

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 Dec 2023 15:00 GMT
3 min read

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal — © ProShots

Arsenal and Liverpool scouts have been hard at work watching Jeremie Frimpong and Nico Schlotterbeck, according to a report.

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The two Bundesliga stars faced off at the weekend when table-topping Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to draw 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in a clash that likely had the eyes of many a recruitment chief fixed on it. Highly-rated striker Victor Boniface equalised late for Xabi Alonso's side to keep them at the summit of the Bundesliga table after Bayern Munich's game with Union Berlin was postponed due to heavy snowfall.

Leverkusen's right-back Frimpong has been a sought-after commodity for some time, emerging as the best nominal right-back in the Bundesliga since his switch from Celtic. At this point, the Dutchman is more a winger or forward than a defender and this shows up in his numbers, with the 22-year-old having notched six goals and seven assists in all competitions this term.

Centre-back Schlotterbeck appears to finally be coming into his own at Borussia Dortmund after hitherto failing to reproduce the kind of stunning form that saw him become the most wanted defender in Germany during his time at Freiburg. BVB paid €20 million for him, but the 24-year-old has often been left exposed by Dortmund's notoriously casual interpretation of defensive duties.

© ProShots - Jeremie Frimpong in action against Hoffenheim

© ProShots - Nico Schlotterbeck up against Newcastle's Anthony Gordon

Liverpool, Arsenal interest

In recent weeks, however, Schlotterbeck's form has improved, with the German international looking good against Newcastle in the Champions League. Unsurprisingly, then, when Arsenal and Liverpool scouts watched Leverkusen against Dortmund, they not only took note of Frimpong but also of Schlotterbeck, according to 90min.

Signing Frimpong, whose €40m release clause will become active in the summer, would allow the Gunners to shift some pieces around and enable them to play someone like Ben White, for example, in his preferred position at centre-back. Similarly, Frimpong would allow Liverpool to move Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield, though whether the ultra-attack-minded Dutchman would be a good option is up for debate.

As for Schlotterbeck, he would give the Gunners cover at centre-back and could potentially replace Gabriel Magalhaes should Saudi clubs approach him again. At Liverpool, Schlotterbeck would be a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.

Fabrizio Romano revealed in the summer that the Reds were looking for a young, left-footed centre-back and the German fits the bill. He's good on the ball and very athletic for a defender, though given that he is still under contract long-term, he would be very pricey.