He has great defensive abilities as well as offensive abilities, and sometimes it looks like his best offensive weapon shines brightest when playing deeper on the pitch, and has more space to run through lines and players, it was even more effective when he played false CB in ajax. The closer he gets to the opposite goal the narrower and less space he has, and he isn't a player who operates well under those circumstances, and I don't think its about nurturing his skills, its just not in his abilities unlike players like arthur, silva, iniesta, xavi etc. He could do well as HCM*, but thats only if we play like ajax, with real wingers, width and quicker and younger players. But that won't happen anytime soon, and it isn't valverdes fault, but we just don't have the players for it.
I still think he will get playing time as HCM, but his skills are best displayed when he can roome and has freedom and dictate the game, and that he can best as DM as its now. When Alena has developed better defensive awareness, i really think arthur-frenkie-alena could be a possible lineup with dembel-jovic-messi in front. But would also mean Umtiti>Lenglet, because lenglet will be ripped into pieces when covering more ground and playing more freely and openly football.
I still hope to see Dembele on Right someday soon, semedo playing the back, and Frenkie would fit well as HCM in that combination.
Something like:
Malcom-Jovic-Dembele
Eriksen-Sergio-Frenkie
Alba-Titi-Pique-Semedo
(if messi doesn't extend his contract). As good as Messi is he really does provide a bunch of problems as well with his hybrid role