Man Utd To Face $58M Defender Who Can Join Old Trafford At Cut Price

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will observe RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano closely Wednesday when the two sides lock horns in their UEFA Champions League’s group match.

The Leipzig center-back has been linked with a move to Old Trafford next summer.

Upamecano, who had a release clause of $58 million at Leipzig this summer, was one of Man Utd’s targets at the recently ended transfer market.

The Red Devils did not make a move for the center-back because he ended up signing a new three-year deal with the German club.

However, the new deal has reduced Upamecano’s release clause to $49 million and Solskjaer and Co are believed to be wanting to trigger it next summer, as reported by The Times.

“There's always rumors and speculation about good players for Manchester United. I've always tried to respect [that] they are players for other teams and don't want to comment on every player we are linked to. But since he's playing against us tomorrow, I know he's a very good player and we can see him close up tomorrow,” Solskjaer was quoted by Goal, as telling reporters during at a press conference on the eve of the game in Manchester.

The upcoming Wednesday’s fixture will be a tricky one for Solskjaer’s side as Leipzig, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, are unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, while Man Utd currently are placed 15th in the Premier League table, having suffered shock defeats at home against Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

Man Utd head coach Solskjaer not only is impressed with Leipzig’s rise in the last few seasons but also is aware of what awaits them next in the Champions League at home.

"They are a club that has come up through the ranks very impressively and almost improved every season. Last season, third in the Bundesliga, they've started really well, got to the semi-finals and are really going for the big trophies. You have a young, proactive, interesting coach to watch who's very adaptable and with players who've got high energy, high tempo - all in all, they've been very interesting to follow the last few years,” added the Norwegian coach in the same press conference.