Barcelona Transfer News: €100M Dayot Upamecano Bid Eyed Amid Fresh Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly ready to shell out "up to €100 million" (£87 million) in an attempt to sign RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano this summer.

According to French outlet Telefoot (via AS), the 19-year-old centre-back is a key target for Barca as they look to bolster their defence following Javier Mascherano's January departure and the ongoing uncertainty over Samuel Umtiti's future.

Upamecano would be receptive to a move to the club, though he is content where he is. He told Telefoot (h/t Owen Fulda of the Daily Star):

"As a youngster, you dream of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, but to get there, you have to work.

"I'm very proud of myself, very happy. I have to keep going in the same direction.

"I have to aim higher. My preference for the moment is Leipzig. Afterwards, we'll see."

The report added that Barca manager Ernesto Valverde is still showing little confidence in back-up central defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Yerry Mina, while the Blaugrana know there will be competition for Upamecano from the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Milan.

Barca's starting pair in the middle of defence is a given: Umtiti alongside Gerard Pique.

The 31-year-old Pique is unlikely to be going anywhere in the summer, but he is nearing the latter stages of his career, while Frenchman Umtiti's contract situation has become something of a problem.

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The release clause in his deal is set at a relatively affordable €60 million (£52 million), and Barca are struggling to tie him to new terms amid links to Manchester United, per Javier Giraldo for Sport.

But even if Umtiti does stay past the summer, which remains likely, Barca could do with added depth at centre-back. And Upamecano has made himself an attractive target of late.

The France youth international has enjoyed a fine breakout season in the Bundesliga as he has played in 24 of Leipzig's 29 games in the 2017-18 campaign while holding his own in the Champions League and Europa League.

While still raw, Upamecano looks to boast a number of attributes that could make him an ideal fit at Barca, particularly with his ability to read the game and his passing range, per WhoScored.com:

If Umtiti stays, it could be an ideal scenario for Barca to bring in Upamecano and slowly mould him into Pique's successor and a long-term partner for his 24-year-old compatriot.