£35m star wanted Manchester United move and missing out was ‘a setback’

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That aborted move to Premier League giants Manchester United was a ‘setback’ for Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong but one the rampaging right-back has bounced back from.

Axel Hesse, a reporter from German publication BILD, initially believed it was ‘impossible’ that Jeremie Frimpong would still be representing Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24.

But, under Xabi Alonso, this is a club who are making the impossible, well, possible. Frimpong still a key cog in a machine which has mass-produced points at an alarming rate. With 31 from 33 available, Bayer have broken Bayern Munich’s record for the best all-time start to a Bundesliga season.

Any disappointment Frimpong may have felt after that heavily rumoured switch to Manchester United failed to materialise, then, will surely have been offset as Leverkusen dreams of a historic Bundesliga title threaten to become a genuine, real life ambition.

Manchester United called off Jeremie Frimpong deal

“If you had asked me after last season whether Jeremie would still play for Leverkusen, I would have thought it impossible,” Hesse tells Voetbal International.

“Major clubs had shown interest. There was contact with Barcelona and Manchester United at an early stage. (Not getting a move) was a setback for him.

“Because I think he had already said goodbye to the club in his mind.”

Fabrizio Romano reported back in the spring that Frimpong, who came through the ranks at Man City before making his name at Celtic, was keen on a move to his former club’s arch rivals Manchester United.

Frimpong, Romano told Caught Offside, would have ‘loved’ to join the Red Devils. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s sudden emergence as a key figure under Erik ten Hag, however, saw United turn their attention to reinforcing other positions.

Though, with Diogo Dalot yet to convince and with a very affordable release clause in Frimpong’s contract, do not be surprised to see this particular rumour raise it’s head again in 2024.

A Bundesliga title in Bayer’s sights

“He plays a big role in the team that is not only at the top of the Bundesliga,” Hesse adds. “But also plays the best football in Germany. As a wing-back, he has become a great weapon.

“After the window closed, he signed a new contract, which includes a release clause of 40 million euros (£35 million) for next summer. If he continues to play like this, he will definitely be sold. Spanish football is tailor-made for him.

“If you If you ask me, Jeremie is the ideal back for a team like Barcelona.”

Frimpong, one of the fastest players in Europe, has five goals and seven assists from 16 games this season.