Today’s transfer gossip

FRENCH DEFENDERS

France is home to several excellent centre-backs, and a couple of them could be heading to the Premier League.

Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig has been tipped as the man to solve Liverpool’s defensive crisis ever since Jordan Pickford went clattering into Virgil van Dijk’s knee, while Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with the 22-year-old as well. They’ve been given a boost by the news in Bild via the Daily Mirror that Bayern Munich can’t afford to meet his £40m release clause, which Leipzig are hoping to receive in January.

With Liverpool leading the race for Upamecano, the Manchester Evening News say that United have a chance of signing long-term target Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.

Dayot Upamecano (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

MORE GINI INTEREST

It seems like it was only the day before yesterday that we were discussing Internazionale joining Barcelona in the chase for Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum. Now, Ronald Koeman has another rival in his bid to sign his former Netherlands midfield general: Real Madrid. Corriere Dello Sport say that the Spanish champions are interested, and don’t want to wait until his contract expires in the summer, either.

All this interest is handy for the player’s negotiating stance of course, with a three-year deal reportedly waiting for him to sign on Anfield’s negotiating table.

Georginio Wijnaldum (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

REAL DEAL FOR ALABA

Wijnaldum isn’t the only player approaching the end of their contract that Real have their eye on.

With Sergio Ramos’ future increasingly in doubt, Los Blancos may have a gap to fill at centre-back, and are turning their attentions to David Alaba. Like Ramos, the Austrian has been reluctant to sign a new contract, and has already been closely linked with a move to the Spanish capital, although Liverpool are also keeping an eye on his situation.

Yet according to Marca, signing Alaba is now Zinedine Zidane’s top transfer priority.

David Alaba (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)