Paddy Pimblett – chief Liverpool scout! Footage emerges of UFC star telling Reds to sign Jeremie Frimpong last year after finding key detail on Football Manager

Liverpool are closing in on Jeremie Frimpong, who is very keen to join Reds

UFC star Paddy Pimblett said club should sign him more than a year ago

Jeremie Frimpong looks like he could well end up as Liverpool’s first signing of the summer and one man called it more than a year ago.

As Lewis Steele reports, Frimpong is very keen on the move from Bayer Leverkusen to join Arne Slot’s Premier League champions and he is high on the club’s shortlist.

UFC star and Liverpool fan Paddy Pimblett said the Reds should recruit Frimpong, during an appearance on the BOSS podcast more than a year ago.

And hilariously, he even had details of the Dutch international’s release clause from playing on Football Manager.

In a clip since shared again online, Pimblett tells musician and fellow Liverpool fan Jamie Webster: ‘I’ve been watching a bit of Leverkusen, lad, for a few months.

‘Get that Frimpong! Because he’s got a release clause as well… Might not have a release clause but on Football Manager he’s got a release clause!’

Jermie Frimpong is very keen on a move to Liverpool and Paddy Pimblett told the club to sign him more than a year ago during a podcast appearance

Jermie Frimpong is very keen on a move to Liverpool and Paddy Pimblett told the club to sign him more than a year ago during a podcast appearance

The wing-back does indeed have a release clause of £29.5million built into his contract with last season’s Bundesliga champions so Pimblett’s info was correct.

Frimpong has a good relationship with Reds star Ryan Gravenberch plus compatriots Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo.

He would also count towards Liverpool’s homegrown contingent having spent years at Man City’s academy before moving to Celtic, then Leverkusen.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Real Madrid, right-back is an area the Reds could be looking to add depth, with Conor Bradley soon to be the only recognised player in that position in the squad.

The club will decide whether to press forward or not and can act quickly given the release clause – but a deal is not yet done.

‘The Baddy’ regularly shares his views on Liverpool and hit out at Alexander-Arnold’s departure from the club before it was confirmed.

‘He’s a lizard,’ the lightweight star told Sky Sports. ‘He’s forgotten where he has come from, he’s meant to be a young lad from west Derby.

‘I’d change my career in a heartbeat to have his, to win trophies for my city, my team I have grown up supporting. What I’d do for that.

‘The money he is earning and has been offered, putting a smile on everyone’s face in the city. I grew up wanting to be Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, and he’s just leaving the club and supporters that have been there for him his whole life to be another cog in the machine at Madrid.

‘He could have been a legend at LFC, always said he wanted to be captain, so he was always lying, wasn’t he? He’s forgotten where he’s come from. He could have had a statue built in his honour, now he’s going to be forgotten about.’

Pimblett is currently enjoying himself after the biggest win of his career against Michael Chandler at UFC 314.

Frimpong could become Liverpool's first summer signing if they pull the trigger

Frimpong could become Liverpool’s first summer signing if they pull the trigger

Pimblett tucked into a feast of food the day after his stunning victory at UFC 314

Pimblett tucked into a feast of food the day after his stunning victory at UFC 314

‘I had about five milkshakes after the fight,’ Pimblett told legendary UFC announcer Bruce Buffer on his It’s Time podcast.

‘This morning I woke up like 198 (lbs), which is fat! That’s about the heaviest I get. I don’t ever really touch 200. Only if I’m in the States, that food it makes me into a machine.

‘I’m massive in the States, but when I’m back in the UK the highest I’ll reach is like 195.’

The No 8-ranked lightweight is considering his next move and will look to return to action before the end of the year.