Liverpool are exploring defensive reinforcements ahead of next season and could target a player available on a free transfer.
The Reds came close to signing Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi on deadline day this summer. But the move collapsed at the last minute.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner reportedly threatened to resign if the club sold the England international.
Guehi is still Liverpool’s preferred option. But the competition for his signature is growing. More clubs are eyeing a move for the Palace defender. So the Reds are now assessing alternative targets.
According to Rousing The Kop, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano has now become a concrete target for the Premier League.
The Frenchman’s contract at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of the current season. This makes him a free agent next summer.
Upamecano came to Bayern from RB Leipzig in 2021. He has made over 150 appearances for the Bavarians. Also, the 26-year-old scored five goals.
The French star is happy at Bayern. And the contract talks with the German club are ongoing.
Liverpool are currently short on reliable options in central defence. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are first-choice under Arne Slot. But the defensive depth remains a concern for the Reds.
Joe Gomez is struggling with injuries. And the new signing Giovanni Leoni is not yet ready for regular first-team football.
The Reds also face uncertainty around Konate’s own future. The French international’s contract runs until the end of the season. And he is yet to agree an extension.
Transfer News Live has reported earlier that Ibrahima Konate is a priority target for Real Madrid next summer when he will be available as a free agent.
If Liverpool fail to extend Konate’s contract, then Dayot Upamecano could become an ideal replacement for him.
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