Man Utd given reminder to fast-track transfer talks after Europe exit
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reviews the Sevilla game
Manchester United suffered a nightmare night in the Europa League on Thursday as bogey team Sevilla inflicted their latest dose of European pain. A 3-0 defeat in Spain saw the Red Devils crash out of a competition for the first time under Erik ten Hag, but elsewhere, a reported summer transfer target thrived.
United squandered a two-goal lead after 20 minutes in the tie to lose 5-2 on aggregate and were made to pay for missing a cluster of gilt-edged chances at Old Trafford last week.
Ten Hag’s side now come under severe pressure to respond on Sunday against an arguably stronger team in Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Defeat at Wembley Stadium would turn a disappointing week into a disastrous one, further emphasising the need to upgrade the Dutchman’s squad depth this summer.
And while United endured turmoil at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, Jeremie Frimpong helped fire Bayer Leverkusen into the semi-finals.
The 22-year-old right-back scored the third of the evening as Xabi Alonso’s men defeated Royale Union SG 4-1 in Belgium.
It continues his impressive season, reportedly catching Ten Hag’s eye ahead of his second summer as United boss.
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According to the Manchester Evening News, United have held discussions with Frimpong’s camp over a potential move at the end of the season.
Ten Hag is said to be intent on signing a new right-back as United plot to sell Brandon Williams, Alex Telles and potentially one of Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Diogo Dalot.
Frimpong’s goalscoring exploits and United’s squad depth woes on Thursday made it clear that they should push forward with plans to recruit him in the summer.
United were without five regular starters from the get-go in Seville, and the need for further investment showed.
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Frimpong was part of Manchester City’s academy set-up until 2019 after moving to Manchester as a six-year-old.
He joined Celtic before completing a switch to Bayer Leverkusen two years later, where he’s contracted until 2025.
Frimpong’s attacking qualities have proven crucial for the Bundesliga outfit this term, registering nine goals and nine assists in 40 appearances.
His form was rewarded earlier this season when Louis van Gaal included him in his Netherlands squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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