Nagelsmann confident United-linked Upamecano will stay at RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann expects Dayot Upamecano to stay at the Bundesliga club for the 2020-21 campaign, despite the defender reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United and other European giants.

"He will be here for the season. I'm sure about that," Nagelsmann told ESPN's Tom Hamilton.

"As for the future, I'm not sure, as he is very talented. Lots of (clubs) will want to buy - perhaps next season it could be real that he leaves the club. But this season he will stay."

Upamecano, 21, made his France debut in Saturday's 1-0 win in Sweden before scoring a header in his second appearance - a 4-2 defeat of Croatia - three days later. He's gradually built his reputation since moving to Germany from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2017 and was one of the stars of Leipzig's run to the 2019-20 Champions League semifinals.

Nagelsmann isn't surprised by other clubs pursuing his players after Timo Werner left Leipzig for Chelsea for around €53 million earlier this summer. However, he expects his club to remain true to its philosophy of recruiting young players with room to improve.

"It is normal when you work with young guys that clubs will try and find young talented guys in the transfer market," he explained. "It is normal that bigger clubs will try and buy these players.

"You have to deal with that; you've got to be one step forward when you buy new players or find new players. Our scouting should be good and we have made a lot of good decisions in the transfer market."