Dayot Upamecano blow for Liverpool, Man Utd as Bayern announce transfer plan

Dayot Upamecano

Bayern Munich have admitted for the first time that they are strongly looking at signing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano this summer.

The powerful French defender has emerged as one of the world’s outstanding centre-halves.

Given his performances in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, it’s little surprise to see the strong interest in acquiring his services.

Indeed, Upamecano has been strongly linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.

United are reportedly still looking to tighten up at the back and could yet target a new defender ahead of a push for the title.

Eric Bailly has done well in recent games alongside Harry Maguire. However, United are still in the hunt for a new centre-half.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been short on cover after injuries to Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk.

One transfer expert had his say over their interest earlier this week and explained why he expected United to seal a deal.

However, Bayern too have always been lurking and they have also been strongly linked. Indeed, a report earlier this month cited the Bundesliga title holders as favourites to land him.

The 22-year-old’s contract with RB Leipzig will expire in 2023. In summer 2021, a clause in that deal would allow suitors to sign him for a fee of €45million.

Now for the first time, Bayern Munich have come clean on their wish to sign Upamecano.

With Bayern set to lose David Alaba as a free agent, there is an obvious space to fill in their squad.

Bayern have already made contact with the defender’s agent and Leipzig themselves to make their interest know. Furthermore, reports also state they have asked Leipzig to be informed should another party make their interest know.

Coming clean for the first time, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made it clear their desire to sign him.

The Bayern CEO declared: “We will of course deal with it, not only with this player, but in principle with all the positions where we want and need to do something.”

Asked about a potential transfer agreement, Rummenigge added: “It’s too early for something like that, he’s still a Leipzig player at least until the end of the season.

“But it’s common knowledge that he has a clause in his contract.”

Rummenigge, meanwhile, has rejected claims the club could cash in on Leroy Sane to fund the move.

“He has a five-year contract,” he said. “That would be nonsense. We need this type of player.

“Of course he will stay with Bayern. And I am convinced: He will be a success here.”


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Leipzig willing to sell Upamecano

Leipzig, who currently sit second in the Bundesliga, recently admitted they are powerless to keep Upamecano this summer.

Dayot Upamecano TEAMtalk

Manager Julian Nagelsmann coped with the summer loss of star striker Timo Werner, who joined Chelsea for £47.5million. Upamecano could well be the next man out, with CEO Oliver Mintzlaff explaining his position on transfers.

“We have a squad that is very broad in terms of quality,” he told SportBild. “So we will sell top performers again if it makes financial sense and we can cope with it from a sporting point of view.

“When I think of Werner, [Matheus] Cunha, [Naby] Keita or [Diego] Demme, we’ve already made a lot of money and still made progress in terms of the sporting side.”

READ MORE: Rangnick believes Liverpool, Man Utd target would be a hit at Bayern Munich