NEIL LENNON reckons Jeremie Frimpong will hit the ground running after his £29.5million switch to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.
Celtic stand to pick up a £3million windfall after inserting a sell-on clause in his contract when the Dutch international right-back joined the Bundesliga club in a £11.5million move in January 2021.
It was Lennon who spotted Frimpong’s potential after he performed for a Manchester City side in a friendly against Celtic youngsters at Lennoxtown and, shortly afterwards, was on on his way to the champions in September 2019.
An initial fee of £350,000 was paid for the attack-minded defender, but that quickly rose to £1million before he was lured to Germany.
Now he is back in the UK and Lennon, who has just signed a two-year deal to continue as Dunfermline manager, has no doubts Arne Slot has signed “a little assassin”.
SEEING RED…Jeremie Frimpong is all smiles after his £29.5million move to Liverpool.
The Northern Irishman said: “Jeremie has had a meteoric rise and, of course, played in last season’s Europa League Final.
“He’s won the Bundesliga, now he is going to the Premier League champions.
“He will handle it. Nothing will faze him. He is enthusiastic, but mentally strong. He’s a little assassin.”
Recalling his first sighting of the pacy youngster, Lennon, speaking to the Daily Mail, continued: “City brought an Under-21 team up to our training ground and Jeremie played – he was really good.
“He had real enthusiasm and capacity to keep going and keep going. He was really strong and quick. We did a bit of digging on him and got him for about £350,000.
“Jeremie was a breath of fresh air in terms of his ability and personality. You couldn’t keep him out of the team.
“I thought: ‘Jesus, this kid is special.’ He had initial speed and then carried on for 30 to 40 yards.
SEEING RED…Jeremie Frimpong is dismissed by referee Willie Collum as Rangers are awarded a penalty-kick in the 2019 League Cup Final. Fraser Forster saved Alfredo Morelos’ spot-kick – and the Dutch ace was smiling again.
“Good control, good reading of the game and an end product. He was a great kid, as well. So grateful, so happy and humble.
“We just loved him. The fans did, too.
“He was unplayable, no ego at all. He was happy every day and a joy to coach.”
Frimpong won a treble at Parkhead and made more than 50 appearances during his season-and-a-half with the club.
The adventurous back-four performer once admitted the main reason he enjoyed his time in Glasgow so much was his relationship with Lennon.
Frimpong said: “My time at Celtic was amazing. I won everything there. There was this manager called Neil Lennon. I love him til this day.
“He loves me. Our relationship was like father and son.
“I remember when I got the red card [the 1-0 win over Rangers in the 2019 League Cup]and I was like: ‘Oh my days, what did I just do?’
DUTCH OF CLASS…Jeremie Frimpong celebrates Celtic’s 1-0 League Cup Final success over Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side at Hampden in December 2019.
“We were leading 1-0, but that red card was a penalty for them and we were down to 10 men.
“I remember watching the penalty and Fraser Forster saved it. That moment I was so happy, but then I had to relax as there were 30 minutes to go. I was sent to a room to watch it on TV.
“This was the worst time of my life, but when the whistle went it was the best feeling.”
At 24, it’s certain there are more good feelings coming the way of a former Celtic fans’ favourite.
