Liverpool transfer 'Arsenal wouldn't allow' suggested after £35m move

Former Liverpool star Stephen Warnock has named an Arsenal player as an ideal signing for the Merseyside club

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has identified an Arsenal player who he believes would be an ideal acquisition for the Merseyside club, while simultaneously conceding that such a transfer remains extremely improbable.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, both Arsenal and Liverpool are already being linked with several potential new signings.

One player who has been identified by Warnock as an ideal signing for Liverpool is Gunners defender Jurrien Timber. The versatile defender signing for Arsenal in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth €40million (£35m) and has become a key player for Mikel Arteta's side.

Warnock has explained why Timber would be a good signing for Liverpool, despite the reigning Premier League champions adding Jeremie Frimpong to their ranks in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen. A £29.5m deal was agreed between the Anfield outfit and Leverkusen earlier this year for Frimpong's signature.

Frimpong's maiden campaign at Liverpool has been disrupted by two hamstring injuries, though he did register an assist for Ryan Gravenberch's goal during Saturday's victory against Wolves, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Despite this, Warnock has suggested that Timber represents the ideal target for Liverpool - while accepting that such a deal is extraordinarily unlikely to happen.

"When I look at the defence and who Liverpool should sign, personally I think they need a centre-back and a right-back," Warnock told Aceodds.

"In the right-back position they have Frimpong, Gomez and Bradley. All three are injury prone and they are not robust enough to play week in week out, and that is something they have to go away from.

"Liverpool has to look at how reliable their players are to play every single week, and at the moment those players aren't fit enough for that. That is a major issue for Liverpool at the moment.

"Liverpool are a better team when they have a proper right back in that position. It balances the team better and allows [Dominik] Szoboszlai to play in the midfield.

"So, I think signing a right back is equally as important as signing a centre back at the moment.

"The issue I have with right backs at the moment is that it always seems to be midfield players playing there, the Guardiola style. I think you need a specialist for that right-back, which can be difficult to find in January.

"In an ideal world I would bring in Jurrien Timber, but I don't think Arsenal would allow that. I think he is the best right-back in the league. I think he is brilliant.

"Someone of that quality who is good in one-v-one situations. Since his ACL injury he has shown his robustness to come back."