Manchester United and Manchester City have reportedly joined the race for RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, who is a target for several European bigwigs.
According to The Sun, the race for Dayot Upamecano is hotting up. The report places Manchester United and Manchester City as new possible destinations for the RB Leipzig star, with the Manchester clubs joining Arsenal in pursuit of the French defender.
Dayot Upamecano has always been a hot property in the transfer market, even from the time at Red Bull Salzburg. But, the interest in him has become widespread after he hinted at the possibility of leaving current club RB Leipzig in the summer. This has caused the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal to join the race for the 21-year-old.
Arsenal have been interested in Upamecano since January, when they reportedly made a futile attempt to land the RB Leipzig star. With Mikel Arteta ready to jump into the transfer market for a centre-back, Upamecano is seen as an ideal target for Arsenal, albeit with the caveat of potential budget problems that the club might run into.
As far as Manchester United are concerned, Harry Maguire’s arrival combined with the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka has strengthened the defence quite a bit. Still, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs another robust presence alongside Maguire; one who can be good in the air, on the ball and in head-to-head battles with attackers.
Manchester City have been longing for a defensive overhaul this season. Injuries piling up meant Pep Guardiola was forced to field two unorthodox centre-backs in a few games, with Fernandinho almost becoming a regular face in defence. Guardiola would want to add quality to the central defensive position, especially with the club ready to cash in on John Stones now.
There are other clubs in the fray as well, with Barcelona one of the major competitors to the Premier League trio. But, in true essence, the Premier League clubs could hold the advantage due to the potential loss that every club in world football will have to sustain due to the suspension of football amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Upamecano has a £55 million release clause in his RB Leipzig contract and the Bundesliga giants are unlikely to budge from that valuation. The Manchester clubs likely hold an advantage over Arsenal as regards to the flexibility of the budget. The 21-year-old will be one of the players to watch in the summer as the transfer drama unfolds.
