Arsenal are weighing up a move for Red Bull Salzburg defender Dayot Upamecano, after the youngster was heavily scouted by Gunners chiefs.
The story originated from Mundo Deportivo, but since then it’s been stated by several reliable Twitter accounts that Arsene Wenger has built a huge interest in the 18-year-old.
But despite Wenger’s keen eye for a player with raw talent at such a young age, he now faces competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona.
Reports collected by the Daily Mirror suggest Luis Enrique’s side have also been watching Upamecano, who broke into the first team this season.
According to @DarrenArsenal1, #AFC have been “extensively scouting” a Red Bull Salzburg player, likely to be 18 year old Dayot Upamecano. pic.twitter.com/i0AJ9d9E5l
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) January 2, 2017
He’s already made 15 league appearances in Salzburg’s first team, who are currently sitting pretty in second place of the Austrian Bundesliga, two points off top place.
And now, as the dream of snatching title gets closer, Salzburg are turning their attention to keeping hold of their star players amid interest from the several ‘money-bag’ clubs out there.
As often the case, Salzburg wouldn’t be willing to let their man go but it looks as if there’s nothing they can really do considering he’s been a product of their youth development.
That means he’ll have a very minimal release clause (if any) and Arsenal could snap him up for as little as £5million if they get in before he signs a new contract.
You might be questioning why Wenger is looking at a centre back having just bought Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi, but here’s where things haven’t been so good.
Arsenal’s Under-23 side have had a dreadful season in terms of defence and have often had to have players feature out of position to try and get through the majority of the season.
Not only would Upamecano be another easy fit to help them out, he’d come through as back-up for the departing Per Mertesacker and the unstable legs of Gabriel.
With Jenkinson and Debuchy likely to leave too, Wenger may feel he wants Gabriel as his main cover at right-back, therefore needing another name to come through in the way of Upamecano.
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