Transfer Rumors: Chelsea Wants Manchester United Target; Red Devils Seek Three More Recruits

Chelsea is reportedly ready to join the race to acquire the services of Manchester United’s primary target Dayot Upamecano, who is also on the radar of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The French' current employer Red Bull Leipzig is adamant that the defender will not leave during the ongoing January transfer window but will be more open to Upamecano severing his ties with the club in the summer.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one Europe’s top defenders in recent years. The center-back signed a new deal with Red Bull Leipzig last year and has a £40 million ($53.9 million) release clause in his deal.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea is the most recent organization that inquired about the Evreux, France native in an objective to take him to the English Premier League.

The Blues, however, will have strong competition with some of Europe’s top-flight brigades, including Manchester United and Barcelona that are already ahead in the queue.

Frank Lampard’s Blues have struggled defensively this season and after some experimentation, the manager has settled with Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma as the pair to defend the center of the field.

But with many of Chelsea's vital cogs in doubt to suit up in the weeks to come, the club is said to be looking at an assured long-term solution.

Manchester United is almost certain to make an approach for Upamecano in the summer, with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer keen to strengthen his backline despite spending £80 million (107.9 million) to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019.

According to Manchester Evening News, Upamecano is one of four signings that the Red Devils want to make in 2021. Apart from it, the Red Devils are rumored to be bringing in a yet-to-be-unnamed right-winger, a defensive midfielder, and a right-back.

The Old Trafford-based club has a number of defenders who have already expressed their disapproval of how the Norwegian manager runs things over in Manchester.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are expected to be sold either in this transfer window or the next, while the future of Eric Bailly is unclear with the defender struggling with long-term injuries in the last two seasons.