Premier League legend Marcel Desailly is a big fan of reported Liverpool target Dayot Upamecano but, speaking to Goal, the RB Leipzig defender much improve at international level.
It speaks volumes about the potential of this 22-year-old Frenchman that, despite a recent dip in form, he is still one of the first names on the Christmas wish list of some of Europe’s top managers.
One of those, of course, is Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League champions may wait until the summer, however, with a £35 million release clause in Upamecano’s contract due to come into effect at the end of the campaign (BILD).
The former Salzburg star is yet to replicate his club form at international level, struggling in a 4-2 win over Croatia in October before being omitted from Didier Deschamps’ squad four weeks later, but Desailly remains convinced by the youngster’s talents.
“We know Upamecano at Leipzig is amazing,” the former Chelsea captain explained.
“It looks like, in the national team, he needs to acclimatise to the level, different teammates and system. He has to get used to the stress of the new level.”
Upamecano is not the only France international centre-back linked with a move to Merseyside.
Sport claims that Everton want to offer 2018 World Cup winner Umtiti a fresh start away from Barcelona. But Desailly’s comments should come as a warning to the Toffees.
“I love Umtiti but he is often injured,” he adds.
A niggling knee injury has restricted the former Lyon star to just one minute of La Liga football in 2020/21.
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