Manchester City and Manchester United are competing for the services of Bayer Leverkusen wingback Jeremie Frimpong, according to The Sun.
The English tabloid claims that the Dutchman, who spent over a decade in City’s academy, is attracting interest from the two Manchester clubs ahead of the next transfer window.
Frimpong reportedly has a £35m release clause in his contract which can only be triggered this summer, and fans on X have been debating whether the defender should be brought back to the Etihad:
Didn’t we sell him?
— Naz (@Nazzy_7) April 1, 2024
Bring him back
— FrenZy (@GraVity_mcfc) April 1, 2024
This better not be an April fools
— FG (@ThisIsFG_) April 1, 2024
I’m loving this
— 19 🕷️ (@robin_szn) April 1, 2024
baller
— 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚊 🇧🇪 ¹⁷ (@BaldiolaV3) April 1, 2024
£35 million release clause in the summer, bring him back home!
— James • ジェームズ・マッカラー (@JMC_OfficiaI) April 1, 2024
YESSSSSSSSS BRING HIM BACK TO THE ETIHAD😎
— Jake Pritchard (@JakePritchardFC) April 1, 2024
Be crazy not to go for him ! 35m release clause, Homegrown & from our academy 🤯 No brainer
— Azz Olive (@AaronOlive) April 1, 2024
get him and wirtz
— conorbawlin (@conorbawlin) April 1, 2024
Get wirtz too
— Mercury (@Merc900) April 1, 2024
Frimpong has been in fantastic form
The 23-year-old has played an integral role for Leverkusen in their title challenge, having scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in 34 appearances this season.
Frimpong is usually deployed as a wingback, which would leave question marks about where he would fit into Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven. However, he did play regularly at fullback at his previous team Celtic.
City will have to replace Kyle Walker in the near future
Although the England international did sign a new three-year contract with the Premier League champions back in September, the defender will be 34 in May.
With that being the case, City do need to consider potential long-term replacements for Walker. As Frimpong is a decade younger, the Netherlands international does look like an excellent candidate.