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

Dayot Upamecano

Former RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick believes Dayot Upamecano would be a perfect fit at Bayern Munich.

Bundesliga champions Bayern, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with the RB Leipzig central defender.

Liverpool opted not to replace Dejan Lovren when he left for Russia in the summer and now their need for a centre-back is great.

The long-term injury to Virgil van Dijk left Jurgen Klopp relying on Joe Gomez, but he has now picked up an injury on England duty.

Stand-in centre-back Fabinho has also been sidelined too, and Klopp is thought to be seriously looking at a new signing in January.

Upamecano, 22, is believed to be on Klopp’s watch list. And according to the Sunday World, Liverpool’s ‘chief’ target is Leipzig’s Frenchman.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also got a chance to see the defender close up” last month after United”s 5-0 win over Leipzig.

Whether or not either make a move in January or next summer remains to be seen, but Rangnick believes Upamecano is good enough to play for the Champions League holders.

Asked if he thought Upamecano would be a success at Bayern, Rangnick told Sport1: “Why not? Bayern know this player well, you can assume that. Physically, Bayern saw that in direct duels: no one will run away from him.

 

 

“He might still have one or two risky balls too many in a game, but he will certainly learn in the next few years.

“I got to know Upa and his family over many years. They not only make decisions that sound good to them in terms of his image, but they also make decisions based on the feeling of what is best for the player himself.”

Konate a star too

Not only do Leipzig have Upamecano, Rangnick also highlighted 21-year-old Ibrahim Konate as a star of the future.

“There are a few others in Leipzig: I see Ibrahim Konate on the same level,” he added.

Bayern signed 18-year-old defender Tanguy Nianzou from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window. And Rangnick says the youngster, who is yet to feature for Hansi Flick’s team, will become a regular.

“I was in contact with the player and his parents for two years,” he added. “He is an exceptional talent and will be one of the best central defenders of the next 10 years.

“If he stays healthy, he will be a regular in a year.”

READ MORE: Rio Ferdinand takes dim view of Upamacano’s ‘nightmare’ display