Transfer Centre

Bayer Leverkusen 'identify Vladimir Coufal as Jeremie Frimpong replacement'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 17 March 2023

Bayer Leverkusen 'identify Coufal as Frimpong replacement'

West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal reportedly emerges as Bayer Leverkusen's top target to replace Manchester United-linked Jeremie Frimpong.

West Ham United right-back Vladimir Coufal is reportedly Bayer Leverkusen's number one target to replace Manchester United-linked Jeremie Frimpong this summer.

Twenty-two-year-old Frimpong is thought to be one of Erik ten Hag's leading defensive targets for the summer window while doubts persist over the futures of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.

Journalist Christian Falk recently claimed that Man United are closing in on the signing of Frimpong, who has starred in a wing-back role for Leverkusen during the current campaign.

The former Manchester City youngster has scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 34 games this season and was called up to the Netherlands' World Cup squad, although he did not play a single minute in Qatar.

Despite being under contract until 2025 and his affiliation with Manchester City, who he represented at youth level between 2010 and 2019, there is thought to be a strong chance of Frimpong making the move to Old Trafford during the upcoming window.

Jeremie Frimpong in action for Bayer Leverkusen on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

Ahead of Frimpong's possible departure, Football Insider claims that Leverkusen have already identified their top target for a replacement in the form of Coufal, who has found regular starts hard to come by this season.

As things stand, the 30-year-old will be able to walk away on a free transfer when his Hammers contract expires in June, and a cut-price transfer would certainly appeal to Leverkusen.

Furthermore, the Bundesliga club are said to appreciate the defender's Premier League, European and international nous, having won 34 caps for the Czech Republic.

West Ham can activate a two-year extension to keep Coufal until 2025, though, and the report states that the London club may opt to do so before selling him for a fee anyway.

Leverkusen are supposedly after at least £60m to let Frimpong leave in the summer, meaning that Xabi Alonso's side can enjoy a healthy profit with a cut-price signing of Coufal.

West Ham United's Vladimir Coufal celebrates qualifying for the Europa League after the match on May 23, 2021 © Reuters

The Czech Republic international hit the ground running at West Ham upon his arrival from Slavia Prague in 2020, and he now has 12 assists to show from 96 games under David Moyes.

Still waiting for his first goal for the Hammers, Coufal has gone 26 games this season without registering an assist, including 16 starts in the Premier League.

The Czech defender has now missed West Ham's last five games in all tournaments due to a heel injury, which kept him out of Thursday's 4-0 Europa Conference League thumping of Larnaca.

In Coufal's absence, Moyes can call upon Ben Johnson or Thilo Kehrer to plug the gap at right-back, but the former is out of contract in 2024 and is also said to be facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium.

West Ham sit 17th in the Premier League table - only above the relegation zone on goal difference - and their first game back after the international break sees them take on Southampton at home on April 2.