Arsenal join race to sign the next Achraf Hakimi

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Arsenal have entered the race to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.

Frimpong caught the eye last season with eight goals and contributed seven assists from right wing-back in the top-flight last season. In all competitions, he ended the campaign with 20 goal involvements.

His exploits have attracted interest from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.

According to German outlet, Bild, Mikel Arteta is a major admirer of the 22-year-old and views him as a talent who will only improve under his guidance. The report also says that the Gunners are poised to move for Frimpong who is valued at £35m by Leverkusen.

However, the 22-year-old has a sell-on clause in his contract when he joined Bayer Leverkusen from Celtic for £11m in January 2021.

At the moment, Arsenal are pushing to finalise deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber and sees Frimpong as an option at right back with Cedric Soares expected to leave the club this summer.

READ MORE: Why Declan Rice deal is delayed, West Ham’s FFP struggle.

Frimpong has received praises from Bayer Leverkusen Sporting Director Simon Rolfes: “He’s technically strong, incredibly fast and is an attack-minded player. He has huge potential.” 

former Leverkusen CEO Rudi Völler added: “Young, accomplished on the ball, versatile, with real pace and a very lively style of play: if Jeremie continues in the same way in the coming years, he could be an important part of our team.”

While former Celtic head coach Neil Lennon says he is incredible. “I’ve never seen a better kid than him. The quality of his play, the pace of his play, the end product. His fitness levels are incredible, I think that the fans have really taken to him.”

Who is Jeremie Frimpong?

Frimpong was born in the Netherlands but has Ghanaian roots on his maternal side. He spent a significant portion of his life in Great Britain. His family relocated to England when he was seven years old, and soon after, the young Amsterdam native began his football journey at the Manchester City youth academy. Frimpong and Sancho crossed paths in the U18s before Sancho made a pivotal move to Borussia Dortmund. Despite showcasing his talents with the U23s in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League, Frimpong left the Etihad Campus without making a single appearance for the senior team.

However, Frimpong made a remarkable impact when he joined Celtic in the summer of 2019. Throughout his debut season in senior football, he featured in 24 competitive matches, contributing four goals and five assists as Celtic achieved a Scottish Premiership Cup and League Cup treble. In the following season of 2020/21, he continued his impressive performances, scoring six goals in 30 appearances before securing a four-year contract with Leverkusen.

READ MORE: Arsenal make contact with the agent of German defender ahead of a move.

Frimpong quickly settled into life at the BayArena, making 10 Bundesliga appearances during the latter half of the 2020/21 season. In the 2021/22 season, he solidified his position as the first-choice right-back, making 26 appearances, scoring one goal, and providing six assists. 

Unfortunately, his campaign came to an end in mid-March due to a ligament injury, just as he earned his first call-up to the senior Netherlands squad. Despite not playing any minutes for the Dutch national team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Frimpong’s impressive performances with Leverkusen, where he recorded five goals and three assists in the first half of the 2022/23 season, caught the attention of Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal.

Upon returning to club football, Frimpong hit a rich vein of form, scoring three goals in just four matches between Matchdays 23 and 26, contributing to Leverkusen’s four consecutive victories. Despite his absence in the World Cup, Frimpong’s talents were recognized and he continues to make strides in his professional career.

Playing style and comparison with Hakimi

In possession, Frimpong displays more characteristics of a right winger rather than a traditional right-back. He possesses remarkable speed, which allows him to cover considerable ground in the attacking third, and he possesses a sharp ability to deliver decisive passes. Despite his attacking tendencies, Frimpong doesn’t neglect his defensive responsibilities. His rapid acceleration enables him to execute impressive recovery challenges.

During Achraf Hakimi’s two-year loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, he showcased the best of both worlds, seamlessly combining attacking prowess with defensive solidity while partnering with Sancho. Similarly, Frimpong has formed a highly productive partnership on the right flank with Moussa Diaby at Leverkusen.

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