Liverpool are now preparing to move for a talented right-back who could eventually replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Replacing the Reds’ former number 66 has been the most difficult task of Richard Hughes’ career.
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This is simply an impossible job. No matter how bad Arnold’s performance at Real Madrid is, he is the core of the Red Army.
For nearly a decade, Liverpool have had it easy, playing at right-back and dominating games.
He is unique. People like them we will never see again at Anfield because they only appear once.
Alexander-Arnold is the mastermind behind the scenes, often winning games single-handedly with his genius. He was originally set to become a future Liverpool captain until he decided to take his career in a different direction.
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Since his departure, Liverpool have struggled to find a replacement, with little success.
Jeremie Frimpong was recruited but it was quickly discovered that he was a better winger than right back.
Arne Slot trusted Conor Bradley when healthy and has stepped into Dominik Szoboszlai’s role since his injury.
But this is only a temporary measure.
Long-term, Liverpool need a right-back, and they need a player more trustworthy than Bradley, who has missed most of the season in almost every season at Liverpool.
According to TEAMtalk Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are both in the race for Benfica’s Daniel Benjaki.
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Reports claim that Liverpool have set their sights on Daniel Banjaki. He is 17 years old and only recently made his debut at Benfica under Jose Mourinho.
But he did catch the eye at the U17 World Cup, a tournament that was well attended by Liverpool’s scouts and where they have already signed Moor Tala Ndiaye and Ifanyi Ndukwe.
Banjaki is Liverpool’s perfect solution now to finally replace Alexander-Arnold.
He is a true flying full-back who loves to bomb up and down the flanks. He will bring pace, intensity and excellent crossing ability, which has already contributed to Benfica’s first-team goalscoring efforts in just his second appearance.
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At the U17 World Cup, he took on a deeper role for Portugal and showed off his excellent passing range – especially when setting up the attack. Showing he can also be that inverted full-back type would go a long way toward the way Arne Slaughter wants his full-backs to play.
Obviously as a defender, Banjaki is also very good. Quick and powerful in his duels (win rate of 68% of defensive duels at the World Cup), he won the most duels (11) and made the most tackles (4) on his debut in La Liga with Benfica’s first team. He’s the kind of defender you don’t want to face as an attacker because he’ll crowd around you and take up your space.
He has strong dribbling ability and can be effective in the final third. In a lot of ways, he reminds you of Nuno Mendes, with his left side profile similar to him.
This move makes a lot of sense knowing how much Julian Ward loved Mendes, but at the expense of him. Benjakhi does have a hefty release clause worth €80m, but at this stage of his career Liverpool could sign him for a much lower price as he is just starting to break into the first team.
Ultimately, there are very few elite right-backs in world football at the moment and Banjaki could be one of them, which is why he is the perfect heir to Alexander-Arnold’s throne at Anfield.