According to a recent report by AS, Real Madrid are currently in pole position to acquire the signature of Dayot Upamecano from Red Bull Leipzig with the defender keen on seeking a move away from the Red Bull Arena. The same source has also stated that Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane has identified the French centre-back as a key target for the summer transfer window with his current contract at Leipzig set to run out at the end of next season.
It is understood that Upamecano shares the same agent as Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos which has put the La Liga giants in an advantageous position to negotiate a deal to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this summer (via AS).
Upamecano’s Dominant Season In The Bundesliga
The 21-year-old has enjoyed another solid season in German football after putting in a string of commanding defensive displays at the heart of Julian Nagelsmann’s backline. He has made 29 appearances for the German outfit this term and has earned one assist for them so far in all competitions. However, the Evreux-born defensive ace is yet to find the back of the net for Leipzig, which is uncharacteristic considering how lethal he can be in the air from dead-ball situations.
Upamecano has averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per match in the top tier of Germany this season (stats via whoscored). The French prospect has maintained his good form in Europe as well where he has averaged 3.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 3.5 clearance in every 90 minutes of UEFA Champions League football so far (stats via whoscored).
If he can replicate his current performance levels in Spain next season, then he could turn out to be a world-class player in his position under the expert stewardship of Zidane. The talented centre-half has played for France at various youth levels but is still waiting to secure his first senior cap for his country.
Maybe a change of scenery to join Los Blancos this summer could help him get a more high-profile platform so that he can capture the attention of France boss Didier Deschamps ahead of the UEFA European Championship, which will kick off in the summer of 2021 because of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
What Will The French Starlet Add To Zidane’s Team?
Upamecano has decent pace in his locker which enables him to make some lung-bursting recoveries inside his own half. He excels at scanning the danger quicker than most others around him and is capable of making some crucial interceptions for his team. The Frenchman is a reliable defender inside his penalty box as he can win a lot of aerial duels by using his remarkable upper-body strength to overpower the opposition. Plus, he is also not afraid to put his body on the line when attempting to make a last-gasp block to restrict the opposition from scoring.
Will Upamecano Be A Good Fit For The Madrid Giants?
What makes Upamecano such an excellent fit for Zidane’s team is his ability to make plays with the ball and retain possession without breaking a sweat. He has successfully made 88.8% of his attempted passes in the Bundesliga this term. He has also averaged nearly two dribbles per game in the Champions League which is an incredible feat for a central defender (stats via whoscored).
Upamecano is a perfect example of a promising modern-day centre-back and has the potential to become a household name in European football someday. The French whizkid won’t have any problems settling into life at the Bernabeu as he shares the same nationality with the Madrid boss Zidane as well as some of his players such as Raphael Varane, Ferland Mendy and Karim Benzema.
Furthermore, both Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois can also speak French, which means that Upamecano could boost the overall chemistry of the Real Madrid squad. Zidane needs to find a suitable long-term replacement for Sergio Ramos, who is in the last legs of his football career. Hence, the Leipzig youngster will be an exciting acquisition for Los Blancos as he will be a more than a capable replacement for the ageing and inconsistent Spaniard heading into the new campaign.
