Ronald Koeman SLAMS Man United target Jeremie Frimpong
‘I have my doubts’: Ronald Koeman SLAMS Man United target Jeremie Frimpong after leaving him out of Holland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers squad… claiming ‘my right-backs should be able to defend well in the first place’
- Jeremie Frimpong has scored seven goals and assisted five in the Bundesliga
- Manchester United are thought to be targeting a right-back as well as a striker
- Wout Weghorst could lead the line for Holland in upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers
Ronald Koeman launched a scathing assessment of Jeremie Frimpong’s defensive abilities when explaining his omission from the squad for Holland’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The Bayer Leverkusen defender – who is a reported Manchester United target – was blasted by Koeman when the former Barcelona boss was asked why the right-back was dropped from Louis van Gaal’s squad that went to Qatar.
The Holland boss claimed that he has ‘doubts’ over Frimpong’s abilities with his back to goal, suggesting that he would not fit in the former Everton and Southampton manager’s preferred system.
The 22-year-old is thought to have caught Erik ten Hag’s eye after a strong season in the Bundesliga, with seven goals and five assists.
United have looked to both Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back this season, with both impressing when called upon, but the Red Devils are thought to be interested in bringing in a third option.
Ronald Koeman criticised Jeremie Frimpong’s defensive ability despite being called up to Louis van Gaal’s World Cup squad
Koeman slammed Dutch defender Frimpong – who is a reported target for Manchester United
‘No Frimpong? This is because of the system that we play in,’ Koeman said.
‘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.’
Frimpong has kept five clean sheets in the Bundesliga at the back for Leverkusen, although his talents lie higher up the field as one of the league’s more attacking full-backs.
The 22-year-old was named in the World Cup squad, but failed to make an appearance for the Dutch side that was knocked out of the quarter-finals by Argentina.
Frimpong was seen limping out of training ahead of the Oranje’s Last-16 clash with the USA at the tournament.
He is still yet to make his international debut, with Koeman leaving him out, and seemingly set to continue to do so until he sees what he determines a a sufficient improvement in Frimpong’s defensive game.
Holland will first take on France in a mouth-watering clash between two of Europe’s giants in Euro 2024 qualifying group B, before a clash with relative minnows Gibraltar.
Frimpong has seven goals and five assists in the Bundesliga but his Bayer Leverkusen side have conceded 40 goals in 25 games
Right-back is just one of the positions that Ten Hag’s side seem set to target in the upcoming window, amid their ongoing squad rebuild.
The Red Devils have been linked with numerous players over the last months, but one player who appears to have rejected their advances is Frenkie de Jong, who claimed he hopes to stay at Barcelona ‘for many years’.
As a result, they have been linked with several midfield targets for the summer, and have reportedly made an advance for Porto’s ex-Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic.
And they could be set for a decision to make, with the club rumoured to be suitors for both England striker Harry Kane – who is out of contract next year – and Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen who is Serie A’s top scorer.
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