RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano is at the top of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s wishlist for the summer transfer window.
That’s according to BILD, who say paying the defender’s release clause would not be a problem for the Blues.
Upamecano is widely expected to leave Leipzig this summer, having earned himself plenty of interest around Europe after an impressive few seasons with the Bundesliga side.
He has a release clause worth €42.5m in his contract, a price that several top sides are thought to consider decent value in the current market.
They say that that thanks to owner Roman Abramovich, the relevant transfer fees and salaries ‘are not a problem’ and the club have already held talks with Upamecano’s agency Sports360.
However, the Blues know there is ‘tough competition’ from Liverpool and Bayern Munich for Upamecano, and thus Tuchel has Niklas Süle and David Alaba on his list of potential targets.
It also can’t be ruled out that they make a move for Jerome Boateng, whose contract, like Alaba’s, expires in the summer.
Tuchel actually wanted to take Boateng to Paris Saint Germain when he was in charge there but he, Alaba and Sule are ‘only considered alternatives’ to Upamecano.
The competition is there, though, with it now seemingly a straight race between Chelsea, Bayern and Liverpool for the Frenchman’s signature.
