Manchester City should still sign Dayot Upamecano

Dayot Upamecano’s new release clause makes him too valuable for Manchester City to pass up.

Although many consider Manchester City’s search for a central defender over, I firmly believe that the club should seek maximum value with its signings and not simply settle for “good enough”. With that said, according to City Xtra, Dayot Upamecano will be available on a release clause for just £35.6 million, a brilliant price for one of the world’s top young defenders.

While Rúben Dias and Aymeric Laporte looks to be the team’s partnership for the long-term future, bringing in competition and rotation for such a good price seems a no-brainer. With Eric García set to leave the club next summer, an extra body could help, but I believe City should also move on John Stones.

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I doubt that City could generate the entirety of the fee from selling Stones, but they can get very close to a straight swap for a player who has completely lost confidence to get a potential superstar. Tottenham reportedly wanted Stones this window for £20 million, but I believe he could get a bid of closer to £25-30 million.

City have missed out on some brilliant value-for-money transfers this past window. Alex Telles, Edinson Cavani, and Thiago Alcântara would have cost City a combined £40.9 million in transfer fees. These are three top players at positions of need for City that would have been brilliant bits of business, but were instead allowed to go to domestic rivals on the cheap.

I hope that City will not let the same happen next summer with the likes of Upamecano and Erling Haaland, who I believe should be the top priority. Given their very reasonable release clauses, Pep Guardiola can bring in two of Europe’s most talented young players for under £100 million, which Haaland is well worth on his own. This would be excellent business for the club which could take this team to the next level for years to come.