Cody Gakpo spotted hanging out with ‘ideal’ right-back as Liverpool search for Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement

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Liverpool are in the market for a new right-back this summer as they look to move on from almost ten years of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Reds have had sterling service from Alexander-Arnold ever since his breakthrough into the first-team in 2016.

However, the Scouser has chosen to walk away from his boyhood club, leaving Arne Slot with the remit of replacing him in the Liverpool starting XI.

Conor Bradley is expected to step up, but with the Northern Irishman unable to shake off persistent injury problems, Liverpool are going to need a second option.

In recent days, talk has ramped up of a Liverpool move for Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutchman is available for around £30m and would provide a new attacking threat for the Reds.

But while the Anfield Dutch connection may make a move for Frimpong slightly more likely, Cody Gakpo has been spotted hanging out with another Netherlands star during a well-earned day off.

Cody Gakpo hangs out with Denzel Dumfries

As Liverpool scour Europe and the world for a new right-back, they have no doubt weighed up all of the options.

One who will surely have grabbed their attention at some stage is Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries.

Dumfries was brilliant during Inter’s epic Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona on Tuesday, backing up his two goals and one assist in the first leg with another two assists in the second.

And having downed Barca to set up a Champions League final with PSG, Dumfries took some time out to go shopping with Netherlands teammate Gakpo.

READ MORE: Which right-backs are coming through the Liverpool academy as Arne Slot looks for Trent Alexander-Arnold solution

As per Dumfries’ Instagram story on Thursday evening, the Dutch pair were seemingly trying on clothes together.

With the two players stood smiling into a full-length mirror, they look to be enjoying each other’s company.

Could Liverpool target Dumfries?

As Dumfries expertly showed over the two legs against Barcelona, he is one of the best right-backs in Europe.

With Liverpool looking for their Alexander-Arnold replacement, it is not inconceivable that the Reds have looked Dumfries’ way.

However, the former PSV Eindhoven star is now 29 years old. Contracted at Inter until 2028, the transfer fee needed to get him out of Milan would surely be beyond what Liverpool would be willing to pay.

As well as financial considerations, though, there is also the question of how Dumfries could potentially block the development of Bradley.

If it were up to us, we’d put aside those reservations and make a play for the Netherlands international. Rafael van der Vaart called Dumfries ‘the ideal full-back‘ in 2023 and not much has changed since then. With friends in the team he’d surely be keen on the move. But it still seems like a very unlikely one.