According to an update courtesy of French media outlet le10sport, Man City are currently leading the pack to sign RB Leipzig colossus Dayot Upamecano – with the Sky Blues now looking to upgrade a weakened defence ahead of next season’s title challenge.
Since we had our two-year Champions League ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday morning, with the fine also reduced to €10 million (£9.08 million), Pep Guardiola’s side have been linked with a plethora of big names as the summer transfer window looms.
Who would be City's best signing?
Milan Skriniar
Kalidou Koulibaly
Dayot Upamecano
Kalidou Koulibaly and David Alaba have been the two star defenders most mentioned through reports recently, with the Daily Mail claiming that Guardiola is targeting both players.
However, le10sport have stated that Upamecano remains an option for director of football Txiki Begiristain – with City leading the pack ahead of Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain.
Currently valued at around £40.5 million by Transfermarkt, which could be around £25m cheaper than Koulibaly as per recent reports, Upamecano is also far younger than the Napoli star at just 21-years-old.
France Under-17s coach Jean-Claude Giuntini has certainly waxed lyrical over the defender’s potential in the past, claiming that he can become as good as ex-Sky Blue defender Jerome Boateng.
Although Boateng’s career at the Etihad was short lived and forgettable, he did go on to become a prominent world class centre-back – and City may have a real talent on their hands if he can replicate the German.
Indeed, this ‘unbelievable’ stalwart may just be the Koulibaly alternative we’ve been looking for.