Zidane wants Real Madrid to compete with Barça for Upamecano

One of the players on Barcelona's shortlist this summer as they look to bolster their squad is Dayot Upamecano, the Leipzig defender who is out of contract in 2021. 

Upamecano, 21, has expressed a desire to leave the German club for a bigger team. The France centre-back is a regular in Nagelsmann's side but there's little they can do to stop him leaving with the threat of losing him for free a year later. 

Barça have had him watched extensively and are big fans. He's young and has huge room to improve still. He is good in the air but, more importantly, is competent on the ball, which is as key for Nagelsmann as it is for the Catalans. 

After he refused to renew his deal, the Bundesliga title contenders are obliged to sell and will start the bidding at around 50 million euros. 

But Barça will face competition, according to Diario AS. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane sees him as the long-term replacement for Sergio Ramos having failed to be convinced by Miliao this summer.