Manchester City target Jeremie Frimpong is expected to leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, according to Bild.
The German tabloid reports that the Netherlands international is set to be the “first star” that manager Xabi Alonso loses from the squad that has gone the entire season unbeaten.
Leverkusen don’t have any real say on whether Frimpong leaves because the wingback has a release clause in his contract.
Any team can sign the Dutchman for just €40m (£34m), which is a bargain for a player who has had such an excellent season in Germany. In 44 appearances, he has racked up 14 goals and 12 assists, which is a phenomenal return for someone who is ostensibly a defender.
Which club could Frimpong end up moving to?
Bild claim that City and Arsenal are the two Premier League clubs that hold the most interest in the 23-year-old.
It should be pointed out that Frimpong actually came through City’s academy before leaving the club to make his senior debut for Celtic in September 2019.
He is, however, believed to be keen on returning to the Premier League so there is unlikely to be any problems in persuading him to move back to the Etihad.
Do City need another right-back?
Manager Pep Guardiola does have both Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis in his squad so it is not as though the club are desperate to strengthen the right-hand side of defence.
However, Walker will turn 34 later this month and a long-term replacement will be needed in the near future. Even so, you do wonder whether Frimpong would be the right fit.
He has thrived playing as a wingback in a back five. It helps him get forward into more attacking positions whilst hiding some of his defensive deficiencies.
City’s recruitment department would need to be confident that Frimpong has the ability to adapt to a back four.
