Bayer Leverkusen chief speaks out as Celtic wait on Jeremie Frimpong sell-on clause update

Some former Celtic stars have enjoyed productive spells at Parkhead before embarking on exciting careers elsewhere in the Game.

Looking at the not-too-distant past, the likes of Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney, and venturing further back with Virgil Van Dijk’s success show the pathways that playing for the Hoops can produce for talented individuals.

One other former Celtic who has hit the headlines recently is Jeremie Frimpong, who became a Bundesliga champion last weekend, starring for Xabi Alonso’s all-conquering Bayer Leverkusen outfit.

During his time in Glasgow, the 23-year-old made 51 appearances in all comPetitions, registering three goals and eight assists, alongside winning a domestic treble along the way [Transfermarkt].

Midway through the bleak reality of 2020/21, Celtic sold the Netherlands international to Bayer Leverkusen. They are believed to retain a release clause around the 30% mark, something referenced by several outlets in the past.

According to claims from German publication BILD, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are among clubs to have established contact over a summer swoop for the ex-Celt.

Bayer Leverkusen chief speaks amid Jeremie Frimpong murmurs

Bayer Leverkusen are a hot topic in European Football right now, and rightly so, as they could potentially complete a Bundesliga, Europa League, and DFB Pokal treble this term.

Nevertheless, as we know all too well, with the success of talented individuals in full view, the vultures start to circle, hoping to pry away their services to boost their own long-term club prospects.

Cited via Football Scotland, Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro has spoken about the future of the German champions’ key stars this summer, indicating they could sanction at least one big sale to facilitate their own transfer window activity.

He stated: “Every year we need to sell one big player to find budget for new signings. So, probably we will sell one player. We’re planning to sign two or three players with that amount of money.”

Suggestions that Frimpong has a £34 million release clause have been circulating among reports, but these may yet be unfounded.

Theoretically, if he were to leave BayArena for that fee, Celtic would stand to pocket a fee of around £10.2 million, though I will leave the calculations to someone more that way inclined.

Either way, Frimpong may inject a nice earner into the Parkhead coffers somewhere down the line, which could be reinvested into Brendan Rodgers’ playing squad.

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