Arsenal have been linked with a move for Dayot Upamecano Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen and re-build Arsenal in a bid to relive past glories.
The young French centre-back made 22 appearances for RB Leipzig which helped the German side secure a Champions League spot, and Arsenal are chasing his signature after being rebuffed by his club last summer, as per Football.London.
The Gunners made an attempt to secure the Frenchman’s signature last summer too, but failed as his current employers were adamant about not letting him go.
Arsenal, who saw their £40million bid rejected are not the only club looking to rope him in as many European clubs have shown interest in the 20-year-old. Here are three reasons why Arsenal should land Dayot Upamecano:
3 reasons why Arsenal should sign Dayot Upamecano
#1 Lack of quality young defenders
Arsenal have an ageing defence line, especially their centre-backs, that is not doing them any good at the moment. With the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos both in their 30s, Arsenal desperately need young legs in that position to keep pace with the opponents.
Upamecano is just 20 and could be the perfect fit in that position as far as Arsenal are concerned.
With age on his side, the French Under-21 international is sure to develop at Arsenal and could become a big player for the club in the future.
#2 Ability to play in the midfield
Though Upamecano plays at the heart of the defence for RB Leipzig, the highly-rated youngster also has the ability to play further up the pitch when needed. He could be a perfect utility player who can be tried in different positions depending on the opponent.
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With tremendous ability to intercept the ball, Upamecano could well emerge as the source of counter-attacks and the crucial link between defenders and forwards for Mikel Arteta’s men.
He also possesses the ability to play short passes which is a quality we often associate with midfielders.
#3 Connection with Matteo Guendouzi
Upamecano’s chemistry with Matteo Guendouzi is very strong as both of them played together for France Under-21 squad before. They were both a part of the French Under-21 squad that played Azerbaijan and Slovakia last week in the Under-21 European qualifiers.
They could be paired in central midfield as it is always an advantage when two players are familiar with each other’s gameplay.
Considering he has already played in a competitive league – the Bundesliga – Upamecano has been exposed to quality teams, and wouldn’t take too long to settle in at Arsenal.