Jeremie Frimpong's first season at Anfield has been a tale of promise unfulfilled, and now his Liverpool future rests in the hands of new head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Dutch defender arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5m last summer, tasked with filling the considerable void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid. That golden Community Shield debut goal against Crystal Palace hinted at brighter days ahead, but consistency proved elusive before injury struck in October.

Two months on the sidelines handed the initiative to Conor Bradley, only for the young Northern Irishman to suffer a season-ending knee injury against Arsenal in January. What followed was a masterclass in making do, with Arne Slot deploying everyone from Dominik Szoboszlai to Wataru Endo in the right-back berth.

Here's the telling detail: when Frimpong returned to fitness, Slot still preferred his makeshift solutions. Seven different players occupied that position last season, yet the man Liverpool specifically bought for the role couldn't nail down his place. It speaks volumes about where things stood under the previous regime.

Now Iraola inherits this puzzle, with former Valencia midfielder Gaizka Mendieta suggesting a potential escape route. Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, the Spaniard floated the idea of Frimpong reuniting with Xabi Alonso at Chelsea.

"Jeremie Frimpong could be a good asset for Xabi Alonso at Chelsea," Mendieta explained. "Managers have players they trust from previous clubs and there will be a belief from the player that they can find that form again."

The logic is sound. Frimpong was part of that historic unbeaten Bundesliga-winning Leverkusen side under Alonso in 2023-24. Trust between player and manager was established, success was achieved. When things aren't clicking at your current club, the temptation to return to what worked must be strong.

"We often see players reuniting with former coaches for that reason, especially if things aren't going well for those players like Frimpong at Liverpool," Mendieta continued. "It's a way of getting them back to form, hoping you can get the maximum out of the player and help you win things."

The numbers tell their own story. Thirty-five appearances across all competitions, two goals scored. Decent enough statistics on paper, but the reality was a player struggling to convince his manager he deserved consistent selection in his natural position.

What makes this situation more intriguing is the international picture. Of those seven players who filled the right-back slot last season, only Endo is competing at the World Cup. Frimpong, alongside Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez and Calvin Ramsay, was overlooked by his national team. When even your international manager isn't convinced, questions naturally arise about your current form and trajectory.

Iraola faces a fascinating decision. Does he back Frimpong and give him the consistent run of games that might unlock his potential? The Basque manager needs to strengthen elsewhere too, particularly at left-back following Andy Robertson's departure. Resources and attention might be better deployed in areas of greater need.

The alternative is acknowledging that sometimes signings don't work out as planned, regardless of price tag or pedigree. Frimpong's Leverkusen credentials are impeccable, but Liverpool requires immediate impact, not potential that might never materialise.

Chelsea's interest, should it develop beyond speculation, would provide a clean slate. Alonso knows how to maximise Frimpong's attacking instincts whilst maintaining defensive stability. The player gets a manager who believes in him, Liverpool recoup funds for other priorities.

Mendieta's assessment carries weight: "I'm sure Chelsea will be active again in the market, they have to let players leave and bring new players in to suit the new coach." Chelsea's perpetual transfer activity is well documented, and Alonso will want players who fit his philosophy from day one.

For Iraola, the decision extends beyond Frimpong alone. It's about establishing his authority, making tough calls, and building a squad in his image. Sometimes that means cutting losses on players who simply haven't adapted to English football's demands.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Frimpong gets his second chance at Anfield or if his Liverpool story becomes one of unfulfilled potential. Either way, Iraola's handling of this situation will offer early insight into his decision-making processes and priorities as the new era begins.