Man Utd & Man City join Barcelona in race for Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong
- Frimpong attracting interest after stellar campaign with Bayer Leverkusen
- €40m release clause active in July
- Dutch right-back came through Man City academy
By Tom Gott, Ben Jacobs
Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong is open to a summer transfer and would favour a return to the Premier League, 90min understands, with Manchester United and Manchester City keen on his signature.
Frimpong, a product of the City academy before his move to Celtic in 2019, is on the radar of a number of top clubs after a stellar campaign saw him bag 14 goals and 12 assists as a wing-back for Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga title winners.
Such form has seen him linked with a move away from Leverkusen this summer and sources have confirmed to 90min that Frimpong is open to a switch after three years in Germany. If Frimpong is to depart, he is understood to favour a return to the Premier League.
There has been little progress in terms of transfer negotiations as Frimpong is away with the Netherlands at Euro 2024, but both United and City are interested in wrapping up a deal for the 23-year-old.
It is City whose interest is more advanced as it stands, with the club holding internal talks to discuss a possible reunion with the Dutch defender.
Any move for Frimpong would likely depend on a Kyle Walker departure, who has interest from Saudi Arabia. However, with the 34-year-old also busy at Euro 2024 with England, any resolution is far from being reached and Frimpong will have to be patient if he is to seal his switch.
Barcelona are admirers of Frimpong as well, with new manager Hansi Flick understood to be a huge fan of the Dutchman, but their financial struggles have seen Frimpong decide a return to England would be his best move since should he depart he is looking for a quick move or not one at all.
Frimpong is understood to have a release clause of €40m (£34m) in his contract which is only active this summer.
Complicating Frimpong's future is Leverkusen's refusal to bid farewell to too many key players after their surprise Bundesliga title triumph. Sources have told 90min that the Bundesliga champions are only planning on losing a maximum of two senior stars and ideally just one.
Centre-back Jonathan Tah, whose contract expires next summer, is a priority target for Bayern Munich and is expected to seal a move to the Allianz Arena.
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