Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a £50 million move to sign Dayot Upamecano, who is also courted by Premier League champions Manchester City.
According to Daily Star, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs interested in the services of Dayot Upamecano. The RB Leipzig defender has emerged as a top-target for these two north London giants, though they could stiff competition from English champions Manchester City, who are also keen on bolstering their defensive department.
Reports from France suggest that Leipzig have identified a potential replacement for Upamecano in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain’s young sensation, Tanguy Kouassi. As a result, the centre-back could be available for a fee of £50 million in the upcoming January transfer window.
This could serve as a huge boost for Arsenal, in particular, who will be desperate for some defensive reinforcements. The Gunners have had a disastrous start to the campaign and are dawdling on the wrong end of the table.
Lack of defensive solidity has been one of the main reasons behind their struggle, with the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis failing to provide any sort of consistency. Upamecano, to that regard, could bring in a lot of quality not only in the build-up but also in terms of their defensive organisation as the Frenchman is known for his physically imposing frame.
Tottenham Hotspur will also look to secure the services of the RB Leipzig defender, who could be an ideal long-term replacement for Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian, at the age of 32, is nearing the end of his career, with his current contract at Spurs expiring at the end of the campaign.
Moreover, Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth are both yet to make an impact following the arrival of Jose Mourinho. That means the potential addition of Upamecano could serve as a massive boost for the Lilywhites.
The Frenchman could build a formidable defensive partnership with Toby Alderweireld, at the heart of Tottenham’s four-man backline. Both the defenders are capable of playing out from the back, which would make things much easier, especially when dealing with high pressing oppositions.
However, both Spurs and Arsenal will need to be careful of Manchester City’s interest. The Sky Blues are likely to go all out for a defender in January, after struggling with the injuries of Aymeric Laporte and John Stones. As a result, Pep Guardiola has been forced to deploy Fernandinho in a central defensive role.
But, from a neutral perspective, this could turn out to be quite a transfer battle as these three Premier League giants look to secure the services of Upamecano in the upcoming January transfer window.
