Liverpool are reportedly taking exciting steps in their search for a right-back to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and it could see them sign Wesley France from Flamengo.
Earlier this month, Flamengo sporting director José Boto admitted that the fullback will soon leave the club.
He said: “When I arrived at Flamengo (December 2024), Wesley already had some offers on the table. I had conversations with him and the staff and gave my opinion as a football man.
“If he continued to develop, if he went to the national team, he would last another year with other clubs wanting him. Really – with the way he plays now, with the needs of the European market – it will not be easy for him to stay here after the summer window.”
Liverpool set for meeting with Wesley Franca’s agent as potential Alexander-Arnold replacement emerges
Multiple claims from Brazil are now reporting that Liverpool are serious about their interest in Franca, with journalist Bruno Lemos reporting via X that the Brazilian international is “coveted” by the Reds.
Lemos goes on to say that United are also interested but this is a point of contention with another source from Brazil as you’ll see below this tweet.
Sobre Wesley.
Conforme já havia antecipado , o jogador está sendo cobiçado por Liverpool e Manchester United.
Seus representantes viajaram para a Inglaterra.#Flamengo #CRF @1MauroSantAnna pic.twitter.com/6ejr5vwqcT
— Bruno Lemos (@Lemos_Santos) April 24, 2025
Corroborating these claims, RTI Esporte also say that Franca’s representatives are in England where they are set for meetings with Liverpool and Manchester City – not United.
The alleged reason for the meeting is to open talks with the two interested Premier League clubs, gain an understanding of their projects, how they fit Wesley Franca into their plans and tour the training facilities.
Liverpool are, according to RTI Esporte, “one of the strongest names in the race’ to sign the 21-year-old.
Not getting a fee for Trent Alexander-Arnold is really damaging
It really is such a shame that Liverpool will not receive a tremendous fee when Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves the club permanently at the end of the season.
For someone like him, the Reds should be in a position where they are receiving at least £70m, but instead, he Liverpool are losing him for free.
And as much as I’d like to blame Trent, it’s much more complicated than that as we all know. It’s much more FSG’s fault but that’s a conversation for another day.
As things stand, Liverpool will not be able to redirect that hypothetical £70m fee into signing a new right-back and a creative outlet (to replace Trent’s visionary playstyle) in midfield.
Franca would be a decent signing if the hype is real and at £30m, Liverpool are not overextending themselves too much.
He ticks all the boxes for what you’d want from a right back with the task of replacing Alexander-Arnold. Except his lack of experience in Europe.
If there is a sticking point for the Reds, it would be that.
