Manchester United are plotting to sign Dayot Upamecano from Red Bull Leipzig next summer.
The 21-year-old defender scuppered any hopes clubs had of landing him this year by signing a new contract.
But included in his three-year deal is a release clause which allows him to leave in 2021 if his £38million asking price is met.
According to The Mail, United are now prepared to activate that clause with Upamecano topping their list of defensive targets.
United have given up on landing Upamecano this year even with the transfer window extended until October.
Upamecano said recently: "I extended in Leipzig, because I feel good with my team-mates and my coach. I’m good at Leipzig.
"It’s true that I’m in great demand. I speak with clubs, but I’m in no rush and we’ll see what happens in the future."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is seeking a new central defensive partner for Harry Maguire having not been entirely convinced by Victor Lindelof.
Upamecano could have left on a free next year when his contract was originally due to expire but he penned an extension to ensure Leipzig would not lose him for nothing.
Part of that agreement was to lower his release clause though, with his new price likely to attract a number of competitors for his signature.
Arsenal have been linked previously though after their recent signing of Gabriel Magalhaes and the arrival of William Saliba a centre-back is no longer priority for The Gunners.
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The Frenchman is also on the radar of Real Madrid who view him as a potential long-term replacement for Sergio Ramos and could enter the bidding next year.
Meanwhile United have been offered left-back Sergio Reguilon by Madrid.
The 23-year-old has returned from a successful loan spell with Sevilla but is not needed at the Bernabeu with Zinedine Zidane keen to raise funds by offloading him.
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