In an interview to Football Insider, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has tipped multiple Premier League sides to have eyes on the services of Celtic’s breakthrough full-back Jeremie Frimpong on the back of a brilliant season for the youngster. According to Hutton, the 19-year-old will reportedly have caught the eye of more than one team south of the border, after making the under-the-radar move over from Manchester City just last summer.
Clarifying that Premier League clubs will be after Celtic’s Jeremie Frimpong, Hutton told Football Insider, “I think they’ll definitely have an eye on him. I think when anybody breaks through to such a strong team and a European team that plays most years, for one so young they’ll always have an eye on him.
“They’ll definitely have scouts on him and they’ll be interested to see his progression. He looks like that young boy who just loves playing football. He looks like he’s out in his back garden, playing with his friends – that’s how it looks.”
How Has Jeremie Frimpong Made A Name For Himself?
The youngster was formerly a member of the Manchester City youth system, but like many who have come through the ranks at the Etihad Stadium in the past, he wasn’t given any first-team game time. Having made the switch to Parkhead in September 2019, it’s safe to say that Frimpong has taken the Celtic faithful by storm. Despite being just 19-years-old, the Dutchman was quick to showcase his strengths and qualities, and Neil Lennon adapted to the situation quite effectively too.
The defender wasn’t deployed as the first choice in the role right from the off, but once Lennon did give him a chance, there seemed to be no going back. A strong dribbler of the ball, the Dutchman showed positive signs while attacking, and also had the composure to deliver quality from out wide on a fairly consistent basis. His record of two goals and three assists from 14 Premiership fixtures is a commendable return for a young player who is yet to turn 20. With a contract that extends until 2023, the defender is likely to become a mainstay in the Celtic side for many seasons to come.
The right-back offers a certain degree of dynamism in the final third, that has been utilised quite brilliantly by Neil Lennon this season as well. The youngster boasts blistering pace when in possession, while he also possesses the required defensive attributes. Despite not being the tallest player in the world, the 19-year-old showcases good upper body strength, while his ability to pick out long-range passes will come as an asset to the Parkhead club next season as well.
Premier League Clubs Will Be In For Celtic’s Jeremie Frimpong: Why Lennon Must Get Him To Stay
Celtic have begun to develop a reputation for finding prodigious young talents who arrive for reasonable transfer fees, and it does look like Frimpong is another addition to that long list. Given the sheer quality in his performances down the right flank this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see interest from elsewhere. Still, Lennon must do everything in his power to deflect any interest, at least for the time being. Jeremie Frimpong offers excellent potential for development, and as has been exhibited by players like Odsonne Edouard, Parkhead could be the perfect place for him to grow into a proper world-class footballer.
