Exit clause does not apply in winter
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Transfers between Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid are rare: in 1998 the Werkself brought in Zé Roberto for 7 million euros and in 2012/13 Daniel Carvajal made a stopover under the Bayer Cross. Due to Carvajal’s cruciate ligament injury, there could be a third deal between the German and Spanish champions in twelve years. According to information from “Sport Bild”, Jeremie Frimpong is one of the Royals’ candidates who are looking for a “1-a solution” in the winter transfer window.
Carvajal is expected to be out of action for around a year and the smallest LaLiga squad with 22 players only has one other right-back, Lucas Vázquez. Frimpong, who had a €40 million release clause last summer that could have been activated by June 14, reportedly wanted to take the famous next step before the European Championships in Germany. Even then, Real was considered an interested party.
The exit clause in the contract, which runs until 2028, also applies next summer, but not in January – as a result, the transfer fee would have to be negotiated and Bayer is not known for letting regular players go in the winter. Leverkusen’s most expensive departures in the winter were Admir Mehmedi in 2018, who moved to VfL Wolfsburg for 8 million euros, and Renato Augusto in 2013, who moved to Corinthians in his native Brazil for 6.7 million euros. Part of the truth is that Leverkusen regularly relies on the sale of regular players to make a profit on the transfer market and that would be possible with Frimpong, as he came from Celtic Glasgow in January 2021 for 11 million euros.
The Royals have not recently been known for making significant improvements in the winter. If anything, the last decade has seen talent such as Reinier (Flamengo), Brahim Díaz (Man City) and Lucas Silva (Cruzeiro). The last time stars were signed in January was in 2009, when Real brought in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) and Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth) for a total of 47 million euros. Frimpong, whose market value rose from 40 million to 50 million euros last year, is expected to cost a similar amount.
The Bayer squad is equipped with defensive players on the right wing alongside Frimpong with PSG loanee Nordi Mukiele and Arthur and Nathan Tella, who plays more offensively. Real can bridge the gap until January with Vazquez and have to hope that he doesn’t get injured. “We have to divide the squad well and think about who we will use in this position if the only full-back we have, Lucas Vázquez, is out,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti. “The market is closed and there are not many options.” At least not for a first-class solution – this will be possible from January 1, 2025.
