Arsenal look at the Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig in the hope of solving his defensive problems

Unai Emery has redoubled efforts to solve Arsenal 's defense problems by sending scouts to monitor Dayot Upamecano.

The 20-year-old impressed RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season, and Emery believes the young player could be a cheaper alternative to Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti.

Arsenal has been shaken by his interest in Umtiti, who wants to stay at Nou camp and see the remaining four years of his contract.

Now, Emery has been forced to look elsewhere for viable options and, after the Gunners' failure to qualify for the Champions League next season, more affordable solutions.

The Spanish boss sent scouts to monitor Upamecano on Monday night, where he played for the French under-21 club at Le Mans, playing more than 70 minutes of their 3-0 win over Belgium.

We do not think that Leipzig wants to lose Upamecano, who has two more years of his current contract with the club.

He also helped the team to protect football from the Champions League next season – what Arsenal can not offer – but he could still be seduced by the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

Joachim Anderson, of Sampdoria, has also become a target for gunners, and would cost about half the price of Umtiti, who would spend most of his £ 50 million transfer budget.

Emery hopes to release funds by unloading part of his team. Stephan Lichtsteiner is already on his way.

Laurent Koscielny, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Shkodran Mustafi could also be presented at the exit door, as all could still be charged a reasonable fee and have a short-term future at the club.

Ideally, Emery would like the gunners to sell Mesut Ozil, with his gigantic salary that cripples the clubs budget, but so far no potential suitor has come forward.

The only actors that are of real interest are those Emery wants to keep, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been badociated with a move to China.