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There are just hours to go before Bayern Munich face RB Leipzig in the league, but the club’s bosses aren’t going to wait. The Bavarians have made contact with Leipzig’s star defender Dayot Upamecano and are expected to make a move on his €60m release clause in the summer. According to Bild, Bayern have been following the Frenchman’s development for over five years now, and he would make an excellent replacement for Jerome Boateng this summer.
As per the report, if another club (like Arsenal, for example) should approach the player, then Bayern will be informed of the move. In the meantime, the club’s interest in Lukas Klostermann has waned significantly, owing to Bayern’s pursuit of Ajax right-back Sergino Dest. The youngster was spotted in the stands during the Pokal game between Bayern and Hoffenheim in midweek:
Genau gesagt war Dest am Mittwoch beim Pokalspiel des #FCBayern gegen Hoffenheim in der Allianz Arena. FCB-Sportdirektor #Salihamidzic schaute sich sonntags zuvor bereits die Partie zwischen #Ajax und #Eindhoven in der Amsterdam-Arena an. #FCBTransfersommer https://t.co/SuyJapdnwx
— Manuel Bonke (@mano_bonke) February 8, 2020
To be precise, Dest was at the cup game between #FCBayern and Hoffenheim in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday. FCB sporting director #Salihamidzic already watched the game between on Sunday #Ajax and #Eindhoven in the Amsterdam Arena. #FCBTransfersommer
If these reports are true, then this summer is already shaping up to be an exciting one for Bayern Munich fans. With Leroy Sané also expected to join, the bosses seem to be making good on their promise to bring in high-level squad reinforcements.
Upamecano’s arrival would have strong implications for the structure of Bayern’s defense. Currently, David Alaba plays at left center-back, with Alphonso Davies filling it at left-back. Due to Lucas Hernandez’s injury, Jerome Boateng has been starting at right center-back. Upamecano could take Boateng’s spot, but that would bring him into competition with Niklas Süle, who is currently sidelined with an ACL injury.
Having so many options in defense could complicate things for the coach, but it would be prudent for the bosses to go ahead with the transfer anyway. Upamecano and Hernandez are somewhat injury-prone to begin with, and there’s no telling what Süle’s form will be like after he returns from injury. With that in mind, it’s good to hedge one’s bets with as many options as possible. A club that wants to win the treble cannot afford to have a small squad.