In a recent report, The Daily Mail has claimed that Chelsea have entered the race to land Red Bull Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano who penned a new contract at the Red Bull Arena last year which contains an exit clause of around £40m. It is understood that the Blues are interested in activating the clause when it comes into effect at the end of this campaign (via The Daily Mail).
Upamecano’s Impressive Form At The Red Bull Arena This Season
Upamecano has enjoyed a solid season in the Bundesliga as he has been a dominant defender at the heart of the Leipzig backline. The French defensive ace has participated in 21 matches for Julian Nagelsmann’s side this term, scoring one goal and earning six yellow cards in the process across all fronts.
The 22-year-old has given a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field in Europe after averaging 3.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.8 clearances per game in the UEFA Champions League group stages. He has even been tidy with his ball-distribution based on his pass success rate of 85.6% in European football (stats via whoscored).
The Evreux-born centre-half has been amongst the best defenders in the German top-flight over the past 18 months, so it is no surprise that the Blues have joined the chase to acquire his services next summer. Frank Lampard needs to add more quality to his defensive department if he wants a squad strong enough for a title challenge in the coming seasons, so Upamecano will be a great option for them at the end of this campaign.
What Will The French Youngster Add To Lampard’s Side?
Upamecano is a moderately-paced defender who can get back to make some recovering runs when being stretched by the opposition. He excels at sensing the danger quickly and is not afraid to clear his lines when needed.
The tough-tackling centre-back has good defensive awareness that allows him to pull off a few important interceptions at the back. He is also quite effective when playing his way out from defence. Standing at 1.86m, Upamecano has got the strength to outmuscle the opposition and win some crucial aerial duels for his side.
If the Frenchman can continue to perform at a high level in the second half of this campaign, Lampard should consider activating his £40m release clause as he will bring some much-needed bite and steel to his defence. Plus, Upamecano could potentially serve as a perfect replacement for Thiago Silva whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires next summer with Chelsea having the option to extend it for another year.
Recruiting the Leipzig defender could transform the Blues from title pretenders to title challengers in the Premier League. Thus, the West London giants should prioritise on making a move to bring him to the English capital before the start of next season.
