Leipzig swoop for Barcelona target Dayot Upamecano
The Bundesliga title challengers will pay in the region of 10 million euros for the France under-19 international, who had been on Barça's wishlist.
RB Leipzig are determined to remain in the Bundesliga title race and have reinforced their squad with a move for France under-19 international central defender Dayot Upamecano, who had also been interesting Barcelona and Manchester United.
10 million euro move
The 18-year-old has made the move from Leipzig’s sister club in Austria, Red Bull Salzburg, for a fee in the region of 10 million euros as the Bundesliga side sought to beat the European giants to the signature of the highly rated defender.
Leipzig have been the surprise package in the Bundesliga this season and the close attention paid to Upamecano by the club’s sporting director Ralf Rangnick was instrumental in the player’s decision: Rangnick was behind Upamecano’s move to Salzburg from Valenciennes in 2015.
“Dayot’s progress has been phenomenal. His excellent performances at national and international level caught our attention,” Rangnick said. “We are very happy that despite receiving offers from some of Europe’s biggest clubs he has decided to sign for us.”
