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Arsenal could make a fresh attempt to sign young French defender Dayot Upamecano next summer, who currently plays for Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
He was on Arsenal’s shortlist of transfer targets during the summer, and the Gunners made a £55 million bid for him, only for that to be rejected by the German club who were holding out for a figure closer to his release clause of £82 million.
However, unless he signs a new contract with Leipzig before the end of the season, that release clause is set to drop to £53 million next summer, so the North London side may be able to secure him for a fee close to what they bid a few months ago.
Upamecano has only played two games this season a knee injury forcing him to miss the first four games of the new campaign.
With William Saliba set to join Arsenal on a permanent basis next summer after his season-long loan with St. Etienne finishes, he and Upemecano could provide an all-French centre-back pairing for the Gunners.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.