Manchester United Eye Frimpong Once Again
Manchester United are reportedly considering a renewed pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s highly-rated right-back, Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutch international has quickly established himself as one of Europe’s top full-backs, known for his attacking contributions, which have been pivotal for his side. In the early stages of this season, Frimpong has been in fine form, registering four goals and four assists in just 10 appearances. His performances have played a significant role in helping Leverkusen reach the top of the Bundesliga heading into the international break. Despite signing a new five-year deal with the German side, Frimpong’s contract reportedly includes a release clause of around €40 million. According to Sky Sports, this clause could open the door for potential suitors, including Manchester United.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed via The United Stand that Manchester United had been monitoring Frimpong as a potential signing. The Dutchman is reportedly eager for a return to English football, having started his career in Manchester City’s academy before moving to Celtic and subsequently to Leverkusen. United’s interest in Frimpong highlights their desire to bolster their options at full-back, especially with Erik ten Hag seeking players who can contribute both defensively and in attack. Whether United will activate his release clause in the upcoming transfer windows remains to be seen.
Sporting’s Inácio Draws United’s Attention
In addition to their pursuit of Frimpong, Manchester United are also showing concrete interest in Sporting CP’s centre-back, Gonçalo Inácio. The Portuguese international has become one of the top defensive prospects in Europe and is attracting attention from several elite clubs. According to Fabrizio Romano, Inácio is on a shortlist of centre-backs that includes Antonio Silva, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Edmond Tapsoba. United are keen to strengthen their defensive ranks, especially after being hit with a string of injuries in the early part of the campaign. Almost all of their defenders, except Victor Lindelöf, have missed games due to injury or illness, including Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Lisandro Martínez. Raphaël Varane also sat out United’s last match against Brentford due to a minor issue. Although he is expected to return after the international break, his fitness concerns continue to raise questions. Since joining in 2021, Varane has missed a significant number of matches, which is far from ideal given his importance in Ten Hag’s plans.
Inácio, 22, signed a new contract with Sporting CP in August, extending his stay until 2027. However, the deal includes a release clause of €60 million, which could attract significant interest from top clubs across Europe. Sporting are likely bracing themselves for offers if Inácio continues to impress this season. United’s interest in the Portuguese defender signals their intent to address their defensive vulnerabilities, and Inácio could become a key target in either the winter or summer transfer windows, depending on Sporting’s stance and the Red Devils’ ambitions.