As the clock ticks toward the summer transfer window of 2025, Manchester City are gearing up for a bold move that could send shockwaves through the Premier League, particularly down the M62 to Anfield. On this late March evening, with the season still in full swing, the Citizens are reportedly plotting a sensational return for one of their former defensive talents, Jeremie Frimpong, now a standout star at Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutch right-back, who slipped through City’s grasp in 2019, has emerged as a top target for Pep Guardiola’s side, a move that could deal a crushing blow to Liverpool and their new manager, Arne Slot, who had their own designs on the 24-year-old speedster.
Frimpong’s journey is the stuff of football folklore. Once a promising prospect in City’s academy, he made 68 appearances across their youth ranks, racking up three goals and seven assists before seeking first-team opportunities elsewhere. His path took him to Celtic in 2019, where he began to turn heads, and then to Leverkusen in 2021, where he’s since blossomed into one of Europe’s most dynamic full-backs. Last season, under Xabi Alonso’s tutelage, Frimpong was a linchpin in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga triumph, their first-ever title, contributing 14 goals and 12 assists across 47 games. His blend of pace, flair, and attacking nous has made him a coveted asset, and now, City want him back to bolster their defense as they eye a return to dominance.
The stakes are high for Manchester City. With Kyle Walker, their veteran right-back, nearing the twilight of his career—his contract entering its final 18 months—Guardiola is planning for the future. Frimpong, with his familiarity with the club and his proven pedigree, fits the bill perfectly. “A bid of £40m will be enough to sign him this summer,” insiders suggest, a figure that reflects Leverkusen’s awareness that they might not hold onto their star much longer, despite his contract running until 2028. City’s interest is concrete, their intent clear: bring Frimpong home and solidify their backline for years to come.
But here’s where the plot thickens—Liverpool are lurking in the shadows, and Slot’s plans could be thrown into disarray. The Reds are bracing for a seismic shift, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, their talismanic right-back, heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid as his contract nears its end. Slot, tasked with steering Liverpool through this transition, has reportedly shortlisted Frimpong as a prime candidate to fill the void. “Liverpool are set to lose Trent, and Frimpong has been earmarked as his potential successor,” the chatter goes, painting a picture of a tug-of-war between two English giants. City’s aggressive push could derail that vision, leaving Slot scrambling for alternatives in a market where top-tier right-backs are a rare commodity.
The ripple effects don’t stop there. Manchester United have also cast admiring glances at Frimpong, though their focus lies elsewhere for now, while Celtic, his former club, stand to cash in with a hefty sell-on clause if a transfer materializes. Leverkusen, meanwhile, are already scouting replacements, resigned to the likelihood of losing their Dutch dynamo. For Frimpong himself, the future remains a blank canvas—he’s yet to signal his preference, but the allure of returning to the Premier League, where he cut his teeth, must weigh heavily on his mind.
Imagine the scene: Frimpong, tearing down the wing at the Etihad once more, his blue jersey a nod to his past, while Liverpool fans lament what could have been. Or perhaps he dons the red of Anfield, Slot’s gamble paying off as he reshapes the squad in his image. “He’s got no shortage of options,” observers note, underlining the high stakes of this transfer saga. For City, it’s a chance to reclaim a lost talent and assert their pull; for Liverpool, it’s a test of Slot’s resolve in his maiden transfer window. As the summer looms, this battle for Frimpong promises to be a defining subplot in the Premier League’s ongoing drama, a clash of ambition, nostalgia, and tactical vision that could shape the seasons to come.
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