Manchester United have now identified a "strong leader" from Bayern Munich as one of their priority targets, and his agent has made contact over a potential deal, journalist Christian Falk has revealed.
Man Utd looking to sign defender alongside Baleba
Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba has quickly risen to near the top of Man United's shortlist, and they are now confident they will be able to get a deal for the Cameroonian over the line, but central midfield is not the only position in which they are keen to strengthen.
Indeed, a formal move has now been made for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, but it could be difficult for United to win the race for the Englishman, given that reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are known to be interested too.
As a result, the Red Devils may be forced to move on to alternatives, and they have now identified a new priority signing, according to Falk, who recently told CFBayern that Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano is one of their key targets.
In fact, Upamecano's agent, Moussa Sissko, has now offered a number of Premier League clubs the chance to sign his client, including Man United, as reaching an agreement on a new deal with the German club has proven to be difficult.
The 26-year-old's current contract is set to expire next summer, which means the Bundesliga champions are at risk of losing him on a free transfer, and they are hesitant to let the negotiations drag on for too long, which could pave the way for an exit.
"Strong leader" Upamecano could be exactly what Man Utd need
United legend Roy Keane has been extremely critical of United captain Bruno Fernandes in the past, with the Irishman saying: "I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent. I know it's a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material."
Fernandes-Man-Utd-Europa-League
A lack of authority on the pitch is arguably a big reason behind the Red Devils' demise, which means the Bayern defender could be an ideal addition to the squad, given his leadership capabilities.
After watching the Frenchman play for Bayern against Celtic in the Champions League, UEFA observer Michael O'Neill said: "He was strong defensively, won all his duels, was great in possession and a strong leader."
The former RB Leipzig man has also performed well across some key defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs.
Statistic Average per 90
Aerials won 2.88 (83rd percentile)
Tackles 1.87 (78th percentile)
Interceptions 1.54 (88th percentile)
As such, the £166k-a-week star's strong defensive showings and leadership skills could make him the ideal addition to Ruben Amorim's backline.