According to Bleacher Report (via Ricky Sacks) Spurs are targeting RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano in January and the Frenchman could be the ideal replacement for the potentially outgoing Toby Alderweireld.
The 21-year-old defender has averaged a 7.01 rating this season for club and country, helping Julian Nagelsmann’s side to second place in the Bundesliga. Having joined the German side in 2017 from RB Salzburg for £9 million, Upamecano’s value has skyrocketed since; and the Frenchman is now valued at £36 million.
Spurs are in desperate need of a new centre-back at the club, with both Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen’s deals set to run out in the summer. Spurs are currently languishing in 14th position in the Premier League, with defensive issues seemingly the main problem behind their current position. Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have just one clean sheet in the league so far this season, so obvious improvements are required.
Meanwhile, Leipzig have kept three clean sheets in their opening 11 games, with Upamecano playing a big part in their strong defence. The 21-year-old is also a regular for France u’21s and if current form continues, perhaps a senior call-up is not too far off for the former Salzburg man.
Spurs need a long-term replacement for Alderweireld, regardless of whether he departs, and with the club potentially planning a move for Upamecano in January, he could be just the man to help turn Spurs’ season around.
To compare their stats from this season. Upamecano averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.4 tackles for club and country, with Alderweireld trailing behind on 1.4 and 0.9 respectively. With Spurs playing from deep this season, Upamecano’s passing percentage could come into play (88.2%), in which he holds a higher percentage than the Belgian (86.1%), which suggests that the Frenchman would be better-suited to Pochettino’s style of play.
Of course, settling into life in the Premier League is never easy but he certainly has the foundations and age on his side, as well as showing he can pull off better stats that one of Spurs’ best defenders.
Therefore, if the Belgian does end up leaving at some point, then Upamecano would be worth a shot.