Chelsea may emerge as the front-runners in the race to sign RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano, thanks to the arrival of Thomas Tuchel.
According to SportBild, Chelsea’s chances of landing Dayot Upamecano could receive a significant boost following the appointment of Thomas Tuchel. The German tactician, formerly at Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to play a key part in convincing the RB Leipzig defender to make the switch to Stamford Bridge, despite competition from other clubs including Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
It is believed that Tuchel was keen on signing Upamecano during his time in Paris. The fact that he speaks fluent French could further aid Chelsea’s chances of acquiring the services of the Leipzig centre-back, who reportedly has a release clause of €40 million that can be activated in the summer.
Upamecano has been topping Bayern Munich’s shortlist this summer as they look for a replacement for David Alaba, who has been linked with a move to FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Hansi Flick has even held talks with the 22-year-old regarding a potential switch to the Allianz Arena in the summer. His experience in the Bundesliga makes him an ideal target for the Bavarians.
However, the appointment of Tuchel has turned Chelsea into shock candidates to sign Upamecano, who is ready for a new challenge next season. The Frenchman could be an ideal long-term replacement for the ageing Thiago Silva and potentially create a formidable defensive partnership alongside his countryman Kurt Zouma.
On a more important note, Upamecano will be well aware of the fact that his style of play is quite compatible with Tuchel’s methods. His ability to distribute possession combined with the defender’s aerial and physical prowess are indeed ideally suited in the Premier League, as the newly-appointed Chelsea manager looks to add more balance to the side after Frank Lampard’s rather chaotic all-out attacking approach.
That said, a lot could depend on how Chelsea progress under Tuchel during the remainder of the campaign. The Blues are currently dawdling at tenth on the table and must get into the top four by the end of the campaign if they are to have any hopes of signing Upamecano. The Frenchman could indeed find it easier to decline the west London giants if they fail to qualify for Europe, knowing a move to Bayern could not only provide the opportunity to play in Europe but to also win the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League.
