Frimpong & Grimaldo leading Leverkusen title charge - 17 league goals between the wing-backs
Bayer Leverkusen’s stunning season under Xabi Alonso continued last weekend. A 2-0 win at Cologne took the German club 10 points ahead of second placed Bayern Munich. With just 10 games to go, Leverkusen are now only an implosion away from ending Bayern’s dominance in Germany and winning their first ever Bundesliga title. A huge part of Alonso’s team’s success this season has come from the potent threat of their wing-backs. In the aforementioned 2-0 win, both right-wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and left-wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo found the back of the net. Yet again.
The pair now have 17 league goals between them this campaign. Grimaldo has scored nine goals, whilst Frimpong has eight to his name. To put that into perspective, as can be seen in the table below, no other defender in Europe’s top five leagues has more than four league goals this term. The pair have both been a constant threat this season and have offered so much in an attacking sense to Leverkusen. The club remarkably remains unbeaten across all competitions. They can put a fair proportion of the credit for that run at the feet of their relentless wing-backs. Frimpong has a current market value of €50 million, whilst Grimaldo's is €35m.
How Frimpong and Grimaldo have been star performers for Leverkusen this season
We begin with Frimpong, and after a solid couple of seasons in Germany, following his €11m move from Celtic in 2021, the 23 year old has taken his game to another level this campaign. In all competitions this season, he has 10 goals and 10 assists from right-wing-back. The Dutchman's attacking contributions for Leverkusen have been monumental. As can be seen below, when it comes to players aged 23 or under in the top five leagues for combined goals and assists, the defender comes in at an impressive eighth position. A remarkable feat considering his primary position is a right-wing-back.
The only player in the entire Bundesliga with more touches in the opponent’s penalty area than Frimpong’s 115 touches is RB Leipzig striker Loïs Openda (129), according to WyScout. This really highlights the attacking capabilities of the former Celtic man and just how high up the pitch he is capable of playing and performing at. He is also fourth in the Bundesliga for crosses this term. Once again, showcasing his ability to get one-on-one and in a position to deliver in the final third. Add to this, that no defender in the entire division can better Frimpong’s 108 dribbles this season, and you’ve got a serial attacking threat coming from right-wing-back. With a €40m release clause becoming active this summer, Europe’s top clubs will be circling for Frimpong’s services next season.
"Frimpong is a very special player"
Transfermarkt Bundesliga expert Tobias Kröger explains more about Frimpong’s impact this season: “Frimpong is a very special player. He's officially a right-back or right-wing-back, but he's even more offensive than Grimaldo on the other side, so he kind of turns into a winger for Leverkusen. He's one of the fastest players in the league and has a very good understanding for where and when the ball should go in the box. He is also very reliable and a constant threat at the back post. He's maybe not as technically gifted as Grimaldo, but is a speed demon who is a bigger danger with more space to run into. He’s slightly more suited to playing in a back-three than a typical right back position, but has developed his all-round game extremely well under Xabi Alonso, and will continue to get even better in the future.”
On the opposite side, Grimaldo, signed from Benfica for €25m in the summer, has also had a major impact on Leverkusen’s outstanding season. The Spaniard has slotted straight into his compatriot Alonso’s system and been a constant threat from left-wing-back. Unlike Frimpong, who generally prefers to stay wide and stretch the pitch, Grimaldo also has the capacity to invert into more central positions and create from those areas. Only Bayern’s Leroy Sané can better Grimaldo’s nine Bundesliga assists this season. The 28 year old is also third in the division when it comes to crosses this term.
"Biggest bargain of the summer in Germany"
Tobias Kröger informs us more about Grimaldo’s performances in Germany this campaign: “Grimaldo is widely seen as the biggest bargain of the summer in the Bundesliga. Many fans were surprised he even joined Leverkusen, but he’s been much better than expected. He really suits the Leverkusen style under Alonso. As a wing-back, he's very offensive and also clinical in front of the goal. His football intelligence is very high, so he's not entirely focused on playing off of the wing, and can also go inside and help build up the play if needed. He's certainly one of the best left-backs/wing-backs the Bundesliga has seen for a long time.”
Which clubs could meet Frimpong's €40m release clause this summer?
Whilst it looks like Leverkusen have a higher chance of keeping Grimaldo into next season, having only signed the 28 year old last June, the younger Frimpong seems a certainty to move on this summer. The Dutchman's €40m release clause which comes into play at the end of the season, will have many of Europe’s top clubs purring. A top bargain could be available. Given the extraordinary performances from Frimpong this season, it’s likely that without that release clause, Leverkusen would be within their rights to ask for close to double of that €40m figure to sign their right-wing-back. It looks as though his most likely destination could be either to the Premier League or to one of the two La Liga giants in Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Real Madrid have had a slight issue at right-back for a while, with the experienced serial winner Dani Carvajal coming towards the end of his illustrious career, now aged 32. Frimpong would provide ‘Los Blancos’ with a much more energetic option. With Carlo Ancelotti’s preference to play a diamond midfield, a wing-back capable of getting up and down the pitch could seriously aid Real Madrid’s style of play. Whilst Barcelona do have João Cancelo, the Portuguese full-back’s preference is to invert and he has even been used from the left-hand side of defence on numerous occasions in that role. Thus opening up the opportunity for Barca to bring in a more attacking full-back option such as Frimpong.
When it comes to the Premier League clubs, both Manchester City and Manchester United could be potential suitors and are rumoured to have shown interest. With Pep Guardiola often playing at least three natural centre-halves across the back line, the chance to play a higher, wider right-back could provide some further innovation to the Spaniard’s masterful tactics. Add to this, that current right-back Kyle Walker is now 32 years of age, and has previously come close to a move to Bayern, Frimpong could be a serious option for the treble winners. Man United have been short when it comes to both full-backs and wingers this season, with numerous injuries and lack of strength in depth meaning Erik ten Hag has often had to look at youth players to fill the gaps in his team. Frimpong’s versatility means he could play at either right-back or on the wing for the Red Devils, and could be a very useful option at Old Trafford. Arsenal and Liverpool have also reportedly shown interest in the 23-year-old.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 10, 2000 (23)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Right Midfield
- Market Value:
- €50.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Sep 20, 1995 (28)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Left-Back
- Market Value:
- €45.00m
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 25.11.1981 (42)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2026
- In charge since:
- Oct 5, 2022
- Total Market Value:
- €594.55m
- Competition:
- Bundesliga
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Xabi Alonso
- Squad size:
- 27
- Latest Transfer:
- Borja Iglesias
- Total Market Value:
- €1.04bn
- Competition:
- LaLiga
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Carlo Ancelotti
- Squad size:
- 24
- Latest Transfer:
- Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Total Market Value:
- €1.27bn
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 1.
- Manager:
- Pep Guardiola
- Squad size:
- 22
- Latest Transfer:
- Claudio Echeverri
- Total Market Value:
- €730.25m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 8.
- Manager:
- Erik ten Hag
- Squad size:
- 26
- Latest Transfer:
- Willy Kambwala