Bayern Munich have confirmed their intention to sign Dayot Upamecano.
The RB Leipzig centre-back is one of the most highly-rated defenders on the planet.
The 22-year-old French international has been monitored by a host of Europe’s elite clubs, including Premier League pair Liverpool and Manchester United.
Upamecano will leave German upstarts Leipzig in the summer, having agreed with club chiefs that it is the right time for him to take the next step in his career.
He signed a new contract last summer to stay with RBL for one more year, inserting a £40million release clause in his deal which becomes active this summer.
Bayern are set to lose David Alaba on a free transfer at the end of the season, with contract talks with the Austrian international having broken down and the Champions League winner preparing to move to Spain with either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
And the Bayern hierarchy see Upamecano as his ideal replacement.
The club have already contacted Leipzig to make their desire known, and have requested to be informed of any moves by other parties.
And on Thursday, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge made crystal clear their desire.
The Bayern CEO declared: “We will of course deal with it, not only with this player, but in principle with all the positions where we want and need to do something."
Asked about a potential transfer agreement, Rummenigge added: "It's too early for something like that, he's still a Leipzig player at least until the end of the season.
“But it's common knowledge that he has a clause in his contract."
Rummenigge also quashed suggestions that, less than one year after signing Leroy Sane, Bayern could cash in on the Germany international.
“He has a five-year contract," he said. "That would be nonsense. We need this type of player.
“Of course he will stay with Bayern. And I am convinced: He will be a success here.”
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