Chelsea join Arsenal in Dayot Upamecano transfer race with Lampard looking to grab RB Leipzig star for £50m
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CHELSEA have joined Arsenal in the race for RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano, according to reports.
Frank Lampard is keen to bring in defenders this summer and looks set to move for the £50million-rated defender.
The Gunners have been chasing the highly-rated 21-year-old since last summer and it appears likely that he will be departing the German side at the end of the season.
The Frenchman has a £50million release clause in his Leipzig contract that expires next summer.
But while Arsenal seemed in pole position for some time, the Blues could step in and steal Upamecano from under their noses as they recently did with Timo Werner and Liverpool, according to The .
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The West Londoners are said to have a good relationship with Leipzig - as a result of Werner's £53m transfer they recently agreed - and could use that to nab centre-back Upamecano.
Antonio Rudiger is generally considered a shoe-in for Lampard but with Andreas Chistensen, Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori yet to cement their spot in the starting XI, the Chelsea boss is keen to bring someone else in.
Upamecano was coy on the speculation in an interview with RMC Sport earlier this year.
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He said: "There are several clubs that want me.
"I will speak with my agents and my parents at the end of the season and we will make the right decision."
As well as Arsenal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also thought to be strongly interested in the imposing centre-back.
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The Gunners wanted him in January, but Leipzig wouldn't budge on their enormous £70million mid-season asking price.
Mikel Arteta's side instead signed Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo - but that hasn't extinguished their interest in Upamecano.
The Gunners have just handed current centre-backs Mari and David Luiz new contracts.