After Timber, Arsenal want ANOTHER €40m Dutchman

Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk

• 5 Jul 2023 08:45 BST
• 2 min read

Arsenal are behind the scenes working on the transfer of Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.

Bild reports the Premier League giants intend to sign the right-back from Bayer Leverkusen for €40 million. At least, this is the budget that the Gunners have set aside for the Netherlands international.

Manager Mikel Arteta, who is also close to landing Jurrien Timber from Ajax, is committed to the signing of Frimpong, Bild reports.

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Frimpong, 22, is a former Manchester City academy player but he made his debut at the highest level playing for Celtic, who then sold him to Bayer Leverkusen for €11m.

The attacking right-back currently boasts an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €32.9 million and is therefore in the top five of most valuable Dutchmen under the age of 23. According to the FootballTransfers algorithm, with a Potential of 83.7, Frimpong is one of the Dutch players with the most promise.

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Bild previously reported that Bayer Leverkusen want to receive at least €50m for Frimpong.

If he departs, the Bundesliga side would be giving up a great deal. The Dutchman was the highest-scoring defender in the German top flight last season with nine goals and also assisted 11 more. These impressive figures ensured that interest in Frimpong started to increase in recent months.

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Erik ten Hag's Manchester United have been following the right-back since October and have seen him as a reinforcement for that flank for a long time. Barcelona and Real Madrid were also mentioned as possible destinations.

Under contract until 2025, Bayer are under no pressure to sell the player.

At Arsenal, Frimpong would compete with Ben White, among others to start on the right, although Arteta mainly calls him when a predominantly defensive system is chosen. Arteta’s thinking is that he would call the Dutch right-back in matches Arsenal would play more on the attack.

According to Bild , Frimpong is not the only player on Arsenal's list of candidates. Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) and Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig) are also in the picture at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta, though, favours Frimpong because of his attacking qualities. Ben White had a strong season, but excels in a defensive role.