Arsenal: 15 major transfer rumors rated by plausibility and need

13. Dayot Upamecano—Plausibility 5/10, Need 8/10

Dayot Upamecano is the one guy whose plausibility falls with each passing day. Not because of anything noteworthy or particular happened, just because the murmur has died down and other names are springing up. Upamecano is currently the defensive darling of the footballing world, with a reported price tag in the £50m range. That’s a bit steep for Arsenal who, believe it or not, doesn’t need to break the bank on a new centerback.

That’s what William Saliba was for and given how long this pause is lasting, we might be able to count on Calum Chambers coming back by the start of next year too. Frankly, I’d take Saliba, Chambers and David Luiz as the crux of this midfield any day.

I won’t deny that we need another centerback though. One more to challenge for a first-team place just in case Saliba needs to acclimate or injuries strike again. Upamecano would be an excellent choice, I just worry about the money spent here that could be spent rejuvenating a wilting midfield or finding the right replacement for Mesut Ozil or a potential mass striking exit.

It’s still in the realm of possibility, it’s just been fading lately.