Arsenal to receive boost in defender Dayot Upamecano chase

The Gunners were linked with a move for the Frenchman in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal could reportedly reprise their chase to land French defender Dayot Upamecano next summer.

RB Leipzig are looking to begin talks with Arsenal target Dayot Upamecano over a deal new, as they look to remove his release clause, which is set to drop drastically next summer. The Gunners wanted to add defensive reinforcements and Upamecano emerged as their top target, but no move materialized.

The 20-year-old joined the German side back in 2017, moving from Red Bull Salzburg and quickly became a player who has been on the radar of top clubs ever since his days with Salzburg. But, it is his transition to top-level German club football that has earned him even more admirers. The player, though, was blighted by a long-term knee injury that has restricted him to just six appearances in 2019.

Even with Luiz’s arrival the Gunners haven’t looked any better defensively and with the January transfer window just a couple of months away, there’s a chance to dip into the market for an upgrade. Prior to signing Luiz, Dayot Upamecano was being heavily linked with a move to the Emirates.

It now being reported that Leipzig are moving quickly to tie their star down to a new contract, as his release clause is set to drop next summer.

German publication BILD have reported that the Gunners did indeed make a €60 million offer for him, and Leipzig are concerned that they will lose him because his current contract includes a €100 million release clause, which is set to drop to €80 million next summer.

As a result, they are looking to extend his current deal which runs until 2021. The Gunners are now set to be handed a massive boost with his release clause much down, which will be a steep fall on RB Leipzig’s valuation this past summer.

It now remains to be seen if Arsenal are able to make a renewed approach for the French player next summer. Any move, though, is likely to depend on whether Leipzig are able to tie the defender down to a new deal before next summer’s window opens.

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