After watching him star in RB Leipzig’s Champions League run, we’re tracking the latest Dayot Upamecano transfer news to see which teams are chasing the young defender.
The 21-year-old centre-back has only just signed a contract extension committing him to his current club until 2023.
However, Leipzig may still find it hard to turn down any big-money offers for a player who cost just €10million from RB Salzburg in January 2017.
Here are bwin’s favourites to swoop before the transfer window closes on October 5:
ARSENAL @ 2/1
Mikel Arteta made a good start in improving Arsenal’s fragile rearguard after replacing Unai Emery last term but he would love to bring in a marquee signing to rebuild his defence around. Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares have made their loan moves permanent, while David Luiz has signed a new one-year deal, but the Gunners still need to upgrade this department.
BAYERN MUNICH @ 2/1
The German giants have had an excellent season but are not the kind of club to rest on their laurels. Niklas Sule hasn’t really cut the mustard since joining from Hoffenheim, while Jerome Boateng and David Alaba are rumoured to be heading through the exit door. That could free up space for a new recruit at the back and Bayern are usually at the head of the queue for Bundesliga-based hot prospects, so it is no surprise to see them being well backed in the Dayot Upamecano transfer odds.
MAN CITY @ 5/1
City’s defensive problems have been well documented and Nathan Ake has already been captured from Bournemouth for £41m to help shore things up at the back. Aymeric Laporte has impressed when available, but is proving a touch injury prone, moving Fernandinho from midfield hasn’t really worked out, Nicolas Otamendi is ageing and John Stones seems out of favour, so don’t rule out more cash being splashed.
MAN UTD @ 7/1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be happy with how Harry Maguire has established himself as a leader on and off the pitch, but finding a partner for him may still be a priority. Victor Lindelof is a nice footballer but remains prone to lapses in concentration, as highlighted in the Europa League semi-final loss to Sevilla. Eric Bailly is also erratic, while Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been deemed surplus to requirements.
CHELSEA @ 10/1
The Blues have already raided Leipzig by recruiting exciting striker Timo Werner but could yet be back on the phone with another bid for Upamecano. Chelsea conceded a Premier League-high 38 goals on the road last season and Frank Lampard needs to find a way to address that issue. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma are all athletic defenders, but a touch of class is needed at Stamford Bridge.
REAL MADRID @ 14/1
Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have formed a formidable partnership at the Bernabeu but it could be time to freshen things up. Ramos is 34 and can’t go on forever in a position where any drop in pace will be ruthlessly exposed, while Varane finished last season under a cloud following a horror-show against Manchester City in the Champions League. Getting Upamecano would give Zinedine Zidane much-needed insurance against either stalwart faltering, as well as tactical options in big games.
