Xabi Alonso has been tipped to make Jeremie Frimpong his first Chelsea transfer of the summer, a move that would reunite the new manager with a player he coached at Bayer Leverkusen. The suggestion is already drawing attention because Frimpong is still only a year into his Liverpool career, and there is no indication Anfield are willing to let him go.
That is why the chelsea transfer news is moving now. Gaizka Mendieta backed the idea, saying Frimpong “could be a good asset for Alonso,” and added that managers often return for players they trust when those players are not quite finding their way. He said Chelsea will be active again in the market and will need to let players leave and bring others in to suit the new coach, which fits the sense that Alonso could move early if he wants to shape the squad quickly.
Frimpong’s own spell at Liverpool helps explain why his name has surfaced. He has not quite found his best role in the team and struggled to step up to the Premier League’s intensity in his debut campaign after arriving in a $40 million deal worth £29 million. He also missed out on the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, leaving him in a difficult place as interest around him begins to build.
In April, Frimpong spoke openly about what he had been dealing with. “I’ve been faced with a lot of injuries,” he said, noting that hamstring problems had struck him three times. He added that “the team is not doing so well, like we should do,” and said there had been “a lot of challenges.” He also admitted that winning one of the FA Cup or the Champions League would not have been as bad, a reminder of how quickly the mood around his first season has shifted.
Mendieta’s argument was straightforward. “Managers have players they trust from previous clubs and there will be a belief from the player that they can find that form again,” he said. “We often see players reuniting with former coaches for that reason, especially if things aren’t going well for those players like Frimpong at Liverpool.” He added: “It’s a way of getting them back to form, hoping you can get the maximum out of the player and help you win things.”
Even so, the link should not be mistaken for a sale being on the table. Liverpool paid heavily to bring Frimpong in, and there is no suggestion they are ready to cash in after one season. That leaves Chelsea’s interest, and Alonso’s old connection to him, as the real story for now: a new manager being linked with an old player, and a summer plan that may begin with a familiar face if Chelsea decide to move.
