Man Utd 'hotter and hotter' on leading summer transfer priority

Stuart Telford

• 8 Apr 2023 14:42 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United are closing on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Netherlands right-back Jeremie Frimpong, according to reports in Germany.

United are set for a busy summer with the Glazer family having put the club up for sale, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe the frontrunners to take over at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag has some gaps in his team he would like to plug regardless of who owns the club, and a No.9 is seen as a priority, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen among those linked with a move to the Red Devils.

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Right-back certainly didn't seem to be a problem position earlier in the season with Diogo Dalot's form, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has put the Portuguese out the team in recent weeks, but the fact Ten Hag doesn't seem to trust either 100 per cent suggests it is a position he will look to strengthen.

Step forward: Frimpong.

'Hotter and hotter' for Frimpong

"It is getting hotter and hotter with Manchester United and Jeremie Frimpong," Sport Bild Head of Football Christian Falk wrote in his Caught Offside column.

"Leverkusen know that they probably will lose their right-back, which is why they gave Arthur (20) a new contract till 2028. The Brazil right-back (full name: Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares) is coming from America Mineiro."

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Frimpong has been the Bundesliga's most potent full-back this season, contributing eight goals and six assists in the league with another four provisions in Europe.

Whilst the Dutchman's pace and attacking intent will thrill Red Devil's fans, the same can't be said for his national team manager Ronald Koeman.

Koeman justifying leaving Frimpong out of his most recent squad for the World Cup qualifiers against France and Gibraltar by saying the following:

"No Frimpong? This is because of the system that we play in. He plays almost as a right winger. My right-back should be able to defend well in the first place and I have my doubts about that."