Reports | Arsenal make a £50 million move for Dayot Upamecano

08/06/2019

Arsenal have set their sights on 20-year-old French defender Dayot Upamecano, who currently plies his trade in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. The North London club have been unsuccessful in their pursuit of Juventus’s Daniele Rugani and are now enquiring about the French U-21 player.

Arsenal are trying to improve their defence after their miserable defensive performances last season and Unai Emery’s team need a centre back. With the captain Laurent Koscielny set to leave for Bordeaux, the Gunners will need to find a player quickly. They have been linked with moves for Juventus star Daniele Rugani and RB Leipzig man Dayot Upamecano, but nothing has happened yet because of various reasons.

Juventus have rejected any loan move for Rugani and Arsenal have been put off a move for Upamecano because Leipzig are asking for more than £50million. The Gunners have already shelled out a staggering £72m on Ligue 1 sensation Nicolas Pepe, and are left with limited funds for a defender. Upamecano, the French starlet, has impressed for RB Leipzig, after his transfer from sister club Red Bull Salzburg in 2017.

The centre back has also played for the French team in the U-21 Euros. Arsenal’s backline at the moment consists of three centre backs - Sokratis, Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi with the German linked with a move away from the club. The German World Cup winner has struggled at the club and Emery is keen to move him on.

The club has time till Thursday to pull off any deals, with a move for Kieran Tierney also on the books..