Right-back remains Liverpool’s most stubborn problem, and Kayode could be the answer

Right-back has been the position Liverpool simply cannot settle, and the latest name linked to solving it is Brentford’s Michael Kayode. Caught Offside reports that the Italian international sits high on Liverpool’s list as they prepare for the winter window, describing the club as being in the monitoring phase rather than anything more advanced just yet.

A problem that refuses to go away

This is not a new conversation at Anfield. Injuries, inconsistent form and a difficult tactical adjustment have combined to make right-back a position of constant patchwork rather than settled certainty. Ronald Araujo’s arrival gave Andoni Iraola a versatile body to plug gaps across the back line, but it was never going to be the long-term fix on its own. Conor Bradley’s recurring fitness issues and Jeremie Frimpong’s struggle to adapt to a fuller defensive brief have both played their part in keeping the position unresolved.

Kayode, at 22, represents a different kind of answer. He has already spent time adjusting to English football since his move from Fiorentina in 2025, which in theory shortens the settling-in period compared to signing someone straight from overseas. “Liverpool have placed Kayode at the top of their watchlist,” the report states, which suggests this interest has been building quietly for some time rather than emerging out of nowhere.

The price tag that will test Liverpool’s resolve

Brentford are not known for selling cheaply, and the figures being discussed back that up. Having paid roughly €17.5m for Kayode in 2025, Brentford are said to want somewhere between €60m and €65m to even engage in serious talks, a number that converts to something in the region of £51m to £55m. That is a significant jump in valuation inside little more than a year, and it reflects both Brentford’s negotiating habits and genuine competition for his signature.

Arsenal and Tottenham are both mentioned as admirers, which only strengthens Brentford’s hand. If Liverpool want to avoid a bidding war later in the window, there is an argument for moving earlier rather than waiting to see how serious the competition becomes.

Our view

We think this report makes sense on paper, even before getting into the numbers. Right-back has felt unresolved for well over a year, and patching it together with makeshift options has papered over a problem rather than solving it. Kayode’s age, his existing exposure to the Premier League and the physical profile he offers all point to exactly the kind of signing that could stop this being a recurring headache.

The fee is where things get harder to swallow. Paying up to £55m for a right-back is a serious outlay, especially with other areas of the squad also needing investment. But if Liverpool genuinely believe Kayode is the long-term fix rather than another stop-gap, the cost of getting it wrong again by delaying is arguably higher than the transfer fee itself.

Why timing could decide everything

Winter window business is rarely straightforward, and clubs tracking the same player tend to accelerate their interest once one party makes a move. If Arsenal or Tottenham decide to test Brentford’s valuation first, Liverpool risk either being dragged into a bidding war they did not want, or missing out entirely on a player they have apparently been watching for some time. Acting with intent now, even if that only means opening informal talks, would put Liverpool in a stronger position when the window properly opens.

There is also a squad balance question worth raising. Signing Kayode would not automatically solve right-back by itself unless Liverpool are clear about what it means for Bradley and Frimpong going forward. Adding a fourth senior option to a position that has struggled for settled selection, rather than genuine competition, could create its own set of problems if roles and expectations are not communicated clearly from the start.

None of that changes the basic logic behind the interest. Kayode looks like a sensible long-term swap for a problem that has cost Liverpool points and patience over multiple seasons. The question that matters most now is whether the club is prepared to pay what Brentford are asking, or whether they wait and risk losing him to a direct rival instead.