RB Leipzig’s decision to extend Dayot Upamecano’s contract but include a £40 million release clause for the summer 2021 was a curious decision.
Amid reported interest from Manchester United (via The Telegraph), the German side have a choice to make.
They can either hold on and keep Upamecano and wait to be raided by half of Europe (including possibly German rivals Bayern Munich) next year, or sell now – and try to get a higher fee, say around £60 million.
But what if there was a middle ground? It has been done before…
How United can make it work
United should look no further than the deal struck by Liverpool with RB Leipzig in 2017 for Naby Keita, which actually saw him join them a year later when his £48 million release clause became active.
As reported by BBC Sport, Liverpool agreed to pay the release clause a year in advance, plus an ‘undisclosed premium’ to guarantee it.
As per terms of the release clause only being activated the following year, he only joined them 12 months later.
Sky Sports reported Liverpool paid just £4.75 million on top, to tie Keita down, to take the deal to £52.75 million.
United could attempt something similar with Upamecano this summer.
The case for it is that Upamecano is the best centre-back on the market, and United can steal a march on competitors by securing him.
An extra year at Leipzig will do Upamecano no harm at all, and £40 million plus a further £10 million to land him early, would be great business.
While Keita has not been a roaring success at Anfield, everything about Upamecano’s career so far suggests he is the real deal.
United could move for a defender who would be instantly available now, but ultimately the club would likely be signing a lesser players.
Upamecano is worth waiting for, and United should not think twice if this was the only condition for a sale.
Arsenal last year signed William Saliba from St Etienne and loaned him back for a year, and are now set to reap the rewards of their patience.
United have enough cover for one season, and we can learn more about Axel Tuanzebe in the mean time. The club could even decide to keep Chris Smalling around as cover for one last season, while we wait for Upamecano to join.
This move could also allow greater financial flexibility to sign Jadon Sancho this summer, if we are only paying the Upamecano release clause in 2021. He is good enough to be worth the wait.
Obviously if Leipzig are open to dealing for £50-60 million now, then United should push ahead with that.
But if the Bundesliga side are absolutely determined to hold onto him for one more year, United should consider trying to secure an advance agreement like Leipzig agreed for Keita.
Providing Upamecano wants the move, there is no downside for Leipzig to keep him 12 months, get their release clause, and a sweetener fee on top while guaranteeing he does not join a Bundesliga rival.
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