Report: Arsenal face daunting battle for £52.5m defender with ‘everything needed to succeed’

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Arsenal could face a tough battle in their hopes of signing Dayot Upamecano with a Sky Sports report claiming Manchester City and Manchester United are now interested in the RB Leipzig defender.

The 21-year-old is one of the most sought-after young defenders in world football at the moment and the fact his contract expires at the end of the 2020-21 season makes him even more appealing to potential suitors.

According to Bild, Upamecano is available for around £52.5million in the summer transfer window and so far he has refused to extend his current deal with Leipzig, with Arsenal keen on the centre-back after previously failing to sign him.

In October last year, the Gunners were deemed to be frontrunners for the Frenchman’s signature along with AC Milan (Calciomercato), but since then, numerous other clubs have been linked with his services.

Upamecano is said to be on the wishlists of both City boss Pep Guardiola and United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both clubs reportedly interested in bolstering their defensive ranks this summer.

Former Celtic defender Marvin Compper, who played alongside Upamecano at Leipzig, previously told the official Bundesliga website: “Dayot has everything needed to succeed in professional football.”

Meanwhile, Ralf Rangnick called Upamecano a “wunderkind” when he joined in January 2017, stating that “at his age, with his potential and playing style, he fits perfectly into our club and our philosophy.”

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Aside from the plaudits sent Upamecano’s way, the France Under-21 defender’s displays have often spoken for themselves, in particular his shutout of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski in the goalless draw between the two sides earlier this year.

A big, strong centre-back with explosive pace and superb reading of the game, Upamecano would be a great addition to an Arsenal side whose defensive issues this season have been well documented.

Admittedly, with William Saliba finally arriving in the summer and the Gunners having the option to make Pablo Mari’s loan deal permanent, centre-back may not necessarily be as pressing an issue as it may have been some months ago.

That said, with Upamecano’s contract reportedly expiring at the end of the 2020-21 season, his release clause could soon be triggered for just over £50million – a relatively inexpensive fee when you consider his talent, attitude, experience and potential for further development.

But with more teams seemingly joining the race, including the Manchester sides, thinks appear to be getting increasingly difficult for Arsenal.