RB Leipzig confirm Arsenal target will leave this summer

RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has warned Dayot Upamecano he will be sold this summer if he does not sign a new deal with the club.

Upamecano has developed into one of the best young centre-backs in Europe this season and is about to enter the final 12 months of his current Leipzig contract.

The France Under-21 international has been heavily linked with moves to Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal already in recent months.

With transfer fees set to tumble as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, some of Europe's elite sides are hoping to prise Upamecano away from Leipzig on the cheap.

Reports soon emerged suggesting Upamecano would extend his contract with Leipzig with an option to leave next summer to held protect the club.

However, Upamecano is yet to sign an extension with Leipzig and now the Bundesliga outfit have warned the 21-year-old he will not be allowed to run down the last year of his existing terms.

"Upa is an extemely important player for us and one of the most sought-after talents in his position," Mintzlaff told Bild, via the London Evening Standard.

"One thing we can assure you of is that we have a very clear understanding with him and his agent that he will not be allowed to leave for free. We can not afford that as a club.

"There are two options for him - he will either sign a contract extension or leave. I'm sure that we will know relatively quickly which direction it goes."

After barely featuring for Leipzig last season, Upamecano has been a key player under Julian Nagelsmann this season.

Upamecano has been in stellar form for most of the season, though ill-discipline has crept into his game of late and culminated in a soft red card in their 1-1 draw with bottom place Paderborn at the weekend.

In fact, the French centre-back has only been shown seven yellow or red cards in the Bundesliga all season and they have all come in his last nine outings in the competition.