Manchester City will reportedly compete with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Barcelona in the race to sign 27-year-old Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Dayot Upamecano is the subject of interest of Manchester City. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Barcelona are also keen on signing the Bayern Munich defender, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Bundesliga champions. So, a Bosman move to another high-profile club is on the cards for the 27-year-old centre-back.
The rise and rise of Dayot Upamecano
Dayot Upamecano has been one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga across his spells with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old was already a hot property in the market during his stint with RB Leipzig, compelling European bigwigs to chase him before Bayern Munich won the battle for his signature in July 2021.
The French international has made over 150 appearances thus far for Bayern Munich, chipping in with six goals and ten assists. However, Upamecano faces an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena after entering the final 12 months of his contract. The situation has piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Barcelona among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
A man in demand
Chelsea will dip into the market for a centre-back next year amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term futures of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. So, Upamecano has emerged as a viable target, as he can build a long-term central defensive partnership alongside Levi Colwill. As for Manchester City, John Stones may not be at the Etihad beyond this season after struggling with fitness issues in recent campaigns.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s interest in Dayot Upamecano is understandable. The Reds were keen on signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window and came close to securing Marc Guehi’s services on deadline day before Crystal Palace pulled the plug. So, it is hardly surprising that several centre-backs, including Upamecano, are on Liverpool’s wishlist for next year.
As for Barcelona, the Catalan club will pursue a Bosman move for Upamecano next summer, as Andreas Christensen faces an uncertain future at Camp Nou. Additionally, Inigo Martinez’s summer exit has adversely affected Barcelona, compelling the Blaugrana to consider Upamecano as a target. However, Manchester City’s entry into the picture complicates matters.
The Citizens are one of the most sought-after destinations for big-name players, and Chelsea, Liverpool, and Barcelona cannot rest on their laurels. So, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Upamecano and if Bayern Munich can keep the 27-year-old French international.
