Arsenal Could Land Star Defender For Original Bid Of £55m

According to reports, Dayot Upamecano could be available to Arsenal for £60m next summer.

The Gunners were heavily pursuing the RB Leipzig man but could not pay up his €100m asking price.

Unai Emery had picked Upamecano as the replacement for Laurent Koscielny when the veteran forced a move to Bordeaux last summer. Arsenal eventually failed with a bid of £55m but they did not rule out a future signing completely.

Sources claim that Upamecano’s release clause might have been at €100m originally but it is due to reduce by €20m each year. That means Arsenal or any other interested teams could steal him away for €60m (£52m) after this season.

Leipzig would also be open to selling him instead of losing him for nothing in 2021. They ideally would have liked to tie him to a long-term contract but Upamecano’s heart is set on leaving the Bundesliga side.

Arsenal believe the Frenchman could be the bedrock of their defensive lineup for years. He is only 20 years old and has ridiculous potential to star at the top level. The Gunners had to settle for David Luiz this summer but the veteran is not part of the club’s long-term future.

Emery already has found a young successor for Koscielny in William Saliba. Hopefully, the Saint Etienne man and Upamecano can build up the French connection in Arsenal backline and return the club to title-challenging ways.