Manchester United, Liverpool to battle for French defender

Manchester United are set to compete with Liverpool in the race to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig, The Sun reports.

The French centre-back has been with Leipzig for the past four years and he has recently been tipped to pursue a fresh challenge.

He was linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer before he put pen-to-paper on a new contract with the Bundesliga side.

Still, he could be on the move in the near future after Leipzig agreed to insert a £38m release clause in his new deal.

According to The Sun, both the Reds and United are interested in the defender and the latter could make a move this month.

Jurgen Klopp's side are in a defensive crisis with the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, but they are not in a position to spend big.

United are not actively looking for new players, but it is claimed that they could look to beat their rivals to the defender's signature.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for a long-term partner for Harry Maguire and Upamecano is reportedly at the top of his wishlist.