According to Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign highly-rated RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano, who had been heavily linked with a move to North London rivals Arsenal in the summer.
As per claims from German publication Bild (h/t Football.London), Arsenal put an offer of €60million on the table in the summer to prise Upamecano away from the Bundesliga, only for RB Leipzig to point to the defender’s mammoth £92million release clause. (Mirror h/t Football London)
The 21-year-old’s release clause is set to be lowered next summer, with no signs of a breakthrough in contract talks between the club and the Frenchman, who is out of contract in the summer of 2021. (h/t Football.London)
French outlet L’Equipe (h/t Football.London) has revealed that Upamecano’s release clause is set to be reduced drastically to just €60million in 2020 if the defender stalls on putting pen to paper on fresh terms at RB Leipzig.
Ironically, though, according to Sun (h/t Football.London), a bid of around £40million could be enough to snare the youngster away from Leipzig, who are very much aware of the risk of losing their prized asset for absolutely nothing in 2021.
Indeed, that has now made Dayot Upamecano a more affordable target for Arsenal, as they look to find an answer to solve their ongoing defensive crisis.
The Gunners could, however, face stiff competition from Tottenham, who are now set to go head-to-head with their North London neighbours in a transfer tug-of-war over the defensive giant.
Despite coming out of their miserly habits to splash the cash on the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso in the summer, Spurs are yet to reap the benefits of their heavy spending spree, with the Lilywhites languishing 14th in the Premier League standings after 12 rounds.
According to Metro (h/t Daily Mail), the Argentinian has hinted at another major transfer spree in January in an attempt to save the club from the ignominy of a horror season in the Premier League.
While bringing in attacking reinforcements should once again be a top priority, Pochettino would be wise enough to run the rule over some of his defensive targets as well, with the Lilywhites yet to replace Kieran Trippier.
To add to that, the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, who have been the mainstays of the club’s central defence for several years, are out of contract next summer, thus epitomising the need for a new centre-back in the ranks to cope with the potential departure of the ageing duo.
Hence, Tottenham’s interest in Dayot Upamecano, who has been profiled by Football.London as a ‘big, strong central defender with pace to burn’, doesn’t come as a big surprise to the club faithful.
Young, talented and with plenty of room for improvement in the years to come, Upamecano is right up there with the best up and coming centre-backs in Europe at the moment. His massive potential means that the 21-year-old could well prove to be an incredible long-term investment for Spurs, who have been shipping goals at an alarming rate this season.
As per whoscored, Upamecano boasts of a pass success rate of 88.3% in the Bundesliga, including 4 successful long balls, 2.4 tackles and 3 clearances per game, figures which speak volumes of his technical abilities on the ball, as well as his proficiency in thwarting the opposition with well-timed tackles.
Additionally, the 21-year-old has won 11 out of 14 duels in the air in the Bundesliga this season, amounting to a success rate of 78.57%, numbers which are very encouraging for a young and developing centre-back.
It is a no-brainer that Spurs need to move away from the likes of Alderweireld and Vertonghen, given that they are on the wrong side of 30 and very much approaching the autumn of their careers in the Premier League with their contract at Tottenham running out soon.
All in all, Upamecano looks like the real deal and completing a move for him could sort out Tottenham’s defensive woes once and for all.
Experiencing a live football match in a stadium is genuinely remarkable. The atmosphere differs significantly from watching on a screen. The energy and excitement are contagious, immersing you in the game like never before. If you're gearing up for your inaugural football match, knowing what to expect is essential. The sheer intensity of being surrounded by hundreds or thousands of passionate fans can be overwhelming. To ensure you make the most of this unique experience, here are some tips for first-timers: Secure Tickets Early Getting tickets is crucial, especially for popular events like the World Cup or highly anticipated matches. Buying online is often the most convenient method. As the season progresses, ticket demand increases, leading to quick sell-outs. Prices can vary based on team popularity, stadium quality, and other factors. You can think about buying your tickets in cryptocurrency. Consider using USDT but first understand tether meaning to know how to go about it. If you have a specific team or player you want to see, plan accordingly by checking their schedule and securing tickets early for the best experience. …
FRANCE WIN 14-0 🤯Les Bleus score 14 (FOURTEEN) times vs. Gibraltar for their biggest-ever win.…
Aston Villa are having a very fine season so far in the Premier League. The…
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…