With the January transfer window now fast approaching, clubs will be putting plans in place to try and bolster their respective squads ahead of the second half of the season.
The summer transfer window, of course, was extended this time around after the 2019/20 season was forced to be extended into August as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, that did not stop Premier League clubs from spending huge amounts money on new additions, with the likes of Chelsea, Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City all splashing the cash on new big-name arrivals.
Despite that, it is expected that several Premier League clubs will once again be looking to loosen the purse strings come January.
However, it appears unlikely, though not impossible, that any Premier League club will be landing highly-rated RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano just after Christmas.
The Frenchman, who has blossomed into one of European football's most highly-rated defenders in the last two years or so, is contracted to the Bundesliga club until the summer of 2023, meaning it would force any potential suitor to part with a large amount of money to secure his signature.
However, should Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, amongst others, still be keen on landing the 22-year-old by the time next summer's transfer window comes around, they could be handed a significant boost in their hopes of landing him.
According to Jan Aage Fjortoft, a former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough striker turned pundit, the Frenchman will definitely leave Leipzig at the end of the current season.
It is claimed by Kicker - one of Germany's leading sports magazines - that the €42million (£37m) release clause within his Leipzig contract will become active, meaning Arsenal, who were very keen on signing the centre-back in the most recent transfer window before turning their attentions to Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes, could land Upamecano for just under £40million.
However, Arsenal, along with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, could face competition from Bayern Munich.
It is also claimed by Fjortoft that Bayern's interest in Upamecano rests on the future of Austrian defender David Alaba.
The 28-year-old, who has made the switch from left-back to centre-back recently, is out-of-contract at the reigning Champions League holders next summer, meaning he is poised to leave on a free-transfer unless he signs a new deal.
With that in mind, all eyes will be on Bayern and Alaba's future to see what happens next for Upamecano. The German champions are also not renewing Jerome Boateng's contract at the end of the season meaning they are almost certainly going to be in the market for a centre-back.
Despite his tender age, Upamecano, who will be hoping to be part of France's squad for next summer's European Championships, has already racked up 124 appearances for Leipzig, scoring four goals.
