Surprise Bayer Leverkusen reaction as Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool links grow
- Liverpool chasing deal to sign Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen
- Right-back's contract includes release clause worth reported £30m
- Leverkusen director moves to cool talk of potential exit
By Tom Gott
Bayer Leverkusen director Fernando Carro has revealed the club have had no contact from Liverpool over right-back Jeremie Frimpong, despite reports claiming the Premier League champions will imminently trigger his near £30m release clause.
In anticipation of Trent Alexander-Arnold's summer exit, Liverpool have set their sights on Frimpong and were recently claimed to be "on the verge" of finalising a deal for the attack-first defender.
SPORT claim that Frimpong has already reached an agreement over personal terms with Liverpool, which is likely to be the most complicated part of negotiations as the right-back's contract with Leverkusen includes a release clause. The exact value of the clause is disputed but is accepted to sit somewhere between €35m-€40m (£29.5m-£33.7m).
Once an agreement with Frimpong is complete, Liverpool would then contact Leverkusen to trigger the clause. According to Carro, there has not yet been anything to suggest that is going to happen.
"Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us which also has an exit clause, but we are currently unaware of any transfer," he told sport.de.
That could all change soon, however, as The Times state Liverpool are preparing to reach out and trigger Frimpong's clause which, per this report, sits at £30m.
Frimpong is keen to move to Anfield and he could end up being followed by midfielder Florian Wirtz after it emerged the Reds had made contact with the Germany international over a blockbuster transfer which could be worth €150m (£126.3m).
Wirtz, also a target for Manchester City, is thought to be leaning towards joining Bayern Munich and some reports have even gone as far as to suggest a deal between the two parties is done, although Carro warned fans not to believe all the speculation.
"The rumours surprised me a bit when I started in the football business seven years ago," he said. "As I've gradually become more involved, there are always different interested parties, there are different parties, there are different relationships.
"It's actually quite difficult to figure out where the rumours come from, but I have to say, there are many that really surprise me."
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