Chelsea 'want to sign Dayot Upamecano this summer'

Chelsea are reportedly keen to bring RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano to Stamford Bridge during this summer's transfer window.

The 22-year-old was strongly linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United last year but signed a new deal with his Bundesliga club at the end of July.

The Frenchman's contract is thought to include a release clause in the region of £40m, though, and Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff recently hinted that the defender could soon be on the move.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have now joined the race for Upamecano, although Frank Lampard's side could face competition from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The report claims that Thiago Silva's age, in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori, means that the London club want to sign a new central defender ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

Upamecano has made 123 appearances for Leipzig since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in 2017.