Arsenal are trying to step up attempts to recruit defensive reinforcements before the transfer deadline on Thursday, and the word is that they have been informed that they must pay around £70m to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig.
The club has completed the Nicolas Pepe deal from Lille last week for £72m, and now they want the France Under-21 international to join in. However, the Bundesliga side is understood to be reluctant to allow him to leave despite the fact he has only two years left on his contract.
A report has claimed that RB rejected Arsenal's offer of £55m over the weekend, although it is believed that the club is yet to submit an official bid for the 20-year-old central defender. Upamecano moved to Germany as a teenager around four years ago from Valenciennes having rejected an approach from Manchester United.
The Gunners are pushing to bolster their defense before the transfer window closes on August 8. Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney is one of Arsenal's priority targets, but Unai Emery is also keen to recruit a new central defender. According to BILD, Arsenal has attempted to land Upamecano with a huge bid. The young defender who still has two years left on his contract with the Bundesliga club has a release clause of £92m) in his current deal.
Arsenal are also keen on getting Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, with the club exploring the option of signing the Italian initially on loan. To buy him outright, Arsenal must have £50m. Meanwhile, it seems Laurent Koscielny is ready to leave the Emirates, with both Rennes and Bordeaux showing interest on the 33-year-old.
The Gunners have already had a two-year loan offer rejected by the Serie A champions. Samuel Umtiti, who has also been linked with Arsenal this summer, is expected to remain at Barcelona after he traveled with the squad to Miami for their pre-season friendly against Napoli.
Upamecano was also linked to Barcelona this summer, and previously, Manchester United expressed their interest as well. If rumors are to be believed, the Gunners will likely come back with a better bid for the deadline.
Emery was asked about his plans for the remainder of the transfer window on Sunday, following Arsenal's 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Barcelona: "It has not changed, our idea and our message. Only if we can sign a player who really, really can improve our squad, then we are going to do that. If not, then not."
