IT is not just Rangers who could use this afternoon’s friendly in Germany to showcase new signings. While Mark Warburton could give a first run-out to loanees Emerson Hyndman and Jon Toral, Bundesliga new boys RB Leipzig could parade Dayot Upamecano following his arrival on Friday from sister club Red Bull Salzburg for £10 million.
The defender was also wanted by Manchester United and Barcelona but has chosen – perhaps unsurprisingly given the Red Bull connection – to throw his lot in with the Germans, currently sitting in second place in the top flight following their promotion in the summer. The 18-year-old Frenchman has signed a contract until 2021.
“We are delighted that, despite numerous offers from leading international clubs, that Dayot has agreed to take the next step with us,” said Leipzig sporting director Ralg Rangnick. “We are convinced that Dayot will quickly make our squad stronger.
"Dayot has developed fantastically in the last year and a half at Salzburg. He's drawn attention to himself with excellent performances domestically and in Europe and he's a player who, with his potential and his style of play, fits perfectly into our style.”
Upamecano is the eighth player to make the internal transfer from Salzburg to Leipzig and the fourth this season as Red Bull look to improve the standing of their German franchise.
“I really enjoyed training with the team on my first day here and you notice right away that the level is extremely high here,” said the teenager. “I have to show that I deserve to be here but I am optimistic. I have thought long and hard about what the next best step for my career would be and had a lot of talks with the officials at the club. As a result of that I’m convinced that this deal is the right decision for me and I am looking forward to getting started.”
More familiar to Rangers fans will be Oliver Burke, the Scotland international who made the switch to the Bundesliga from Nottingham Forest last summer for a fee in the region of around £15m. Burke has played 13 games for the title challengers, scoring once and laying on two assists, but has started just once.
“The team's on a roll and I have to wait in line and continue to put my foot on the gas," he said. "It's clear the coach can't change a successful team, but we're in preseason now. I'll work hard and want to pay back the trust they have in me. If I get my chance, I'll take it."
Like the Scottish Premiership, the Bundesliga is in the midst of their winter break, with Leipzig embarking on a training camp to Portugal. They resume league action next week at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
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