Not Marc Guehi: The £52m player Liverpool need to sign in January to retain the Premier League title
Liverpool have the chance to delve back into the transfer market for more signings in the January transfer window
Liverpool were very active on the transfer front over the summer and brought in new faces like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike to bolster their squad. They won the Premier League title last season and are hoping to do the same again this time around. Arne Slot was picked as their head coach last year and has since adapted well to life in England.
The Merseyside giants picked Slot as their replacement for the popular Jurgen Klopp. Prior to his move to Anfield, he caught the eye in his native Holland with Feyenoord. He has done well so far and will be eyeing more trophies in this campaign.
Liverpool should eye Dayot Upamecano
Liverpool’s pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has been well documented. They weren’t able to get a deal over the line for the England ace in the last window and may have to move on to other targets. Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano would be an ideal alternative and is someone who they should pursue in January if possible.
Upamecano, 26, is facing an uncertain long-term future over in Germany and his situation is up in the air. He is out of contract at the end of the campaign and is due to become a free agent in late June as things stand. His price tag is around the £52million mark, according to Transfermarkt.
Bayern risk losing him for nothing next June though if they don’t cash in on him this winter, assuming he doesn’t pen an extension at the Allianz Arena in the meantime. That means that the Reds may be able to get him for a cut price fee in a couple of months time.
Upamecano joined his current club back in 2021 and he has since been ever-present in their backline. He made 161 appearances in all competitions, nine of which have come this term, and he has chipped in with five goals from the back. The France international, who has 34 caps under his belt to date, has won the Bundesliga title on three occasions.
Why Dayot Upamecano would suit Liverpool
Upamecano would give Liverpool more competition and depth in defence. He would give Slot another option to pick from and could tighten up their backline. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger and they need to start thinking about potential long-term replacements. The fact the Reds pushed so hard for Guehi shows they are keen on bolstering that particular area.
The Evreux-born man started out at FC Liefering before making the step up to RB Salzburg in 2016 as a youngster. He was then snapped up by RB Leipzig and went on to play 154 outings, finding the net on four occasions. Bayern Munich subsequently swooped in just over four years ago and he hasn’t looked back since as they face a battle now to retain his services amid expected attention from elsewhere.
If Upamecano joined Liverpool, the door would open for another team to move in for Guehi. In addition, it may spell the end of their current players like Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate. The latter has been with them since 2021 and played with Upamecano at Leipzig but it remains to be seen at this stage whether he is part of Slot’s long-term plans.