Arsenal are reportedly looking to tie up a deal for Valenciennes youngster Dayot Upamecano.
According to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are aiming to ‘rush through’ a deal to sign Valenciennes defender Dayot Upamecano.
The Gunners made two signings in January, with Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik and Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista arriving from Legia Warsaw and Villarreal respectively.
The new signings once again demonstrated how manager Arsene Wenger prefers to bring in under-the-radar players than the big names, and that appears to be the case again with his pursuit of teenager Upamecano.
The 16-year-old was a reported deadline day target for Manchester United, but they saw the deal collapse during the final hours of the transfer window.
That slip-up appears to have let Arsenal in, and the Mirror believe that Arsenal are hoping to secure a quick deal with Valenciennes to fend off United, with Wenger’s influence no doubt a factor as the Gunners target yet another French youngster.
They suggest that Wenger has received positive reports on the youngster, and they will now look to convince Valenciennes to sell, with Arsenal keen to not only improve their academy squad, but also add depth in the centre of defence.
This feels eerily similar for Manchester United; they were reportedly on the verge of landing a French teenage defender from Lens back in 2011, but he snubbed them for Real Madrid. That player was Raphael Varane, who is now one of the finest young centre backs in world football.
United not only have to hope that he signs with the Red Devils, but also that if he chooses Arsenal, he doesn’t become the next Varane.
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