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Barcelona are set to battle Bayern Munich for a right-back that their ex-coach says cannot defend
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are set to do battle for Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong with a move in the summer on the cards for the Dutch defender.
Frimpong has been one of the most talked about defenders in Europe’s top-five leagues and is expected to make a move in the summer with a number of big clubs circling the Leverkusen right-back.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich chasing talented right-back
Frimpong has impressed with Leverkusen this season, scoring eight goals and assisting nine more in 36 games across all competitions, so it is no surprise that teams in search of an offensive full-back are hot on the Dutchman’s tail.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich have struggled in the right-back position of late, and they would both be in the market for a full-back in the summer transfer window.
Barcelona have struggled to replace Dani Alves at right back and even had to re-sign him last season despite the Brazilian being 39 years old at the time.
Other full-backs like Aleix Vidal, Sergi Roberto, Nelson Semedo, and Sergino Dest have failed to do the position justice, and at the moment, Barcelona do not have a senior specialist right-back on the team, with centre-backs Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo filling in.
Bayern Munich are also in the market for a right back after it was revealed that they would not be pursuing the option on Joao Cancelo’s loan deal to buy him permanently.
Ronald Koeman believes Barcelona and Bayern Munich target cannot defend
Despite Frompong having many admirers, not everybody is convinced of his talents, and that short list includes head coach of the Netherlands national team, Ronald Koeman who believes that the Leverkusen man is not suited for his team due to one major flaw.
Koeman took charge of the Netherlands' national team in an official match for the first time in the March international break, but deigned to call up Frimpong to the squad, and when asked about the omission, he proclaimed that it was because he doubted the right-backs ability to defend.
He said, "No Frimpong? This is because of the system that we play in. "He plays almost as a right winger. My right back should be able to defend well in the first place and I have my doubts about that."
Judging by Frimpong’s offensive numbers, there could be some truth to what he said, but that has not stopped Bayern Munich or Barcelona from trying to sign the highly-rated 22-year-old.
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