Liverpool want to sign a centre-back in the January transfer window, and while Marc Guehi remains the primary target, they are considering other options on the market
Liverpool are said to be considering Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano as a possible alternative to Marc Guehi.
The Reds failed to get a deal over the line for Guehi on transfer deadline day after Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug at the last minute. Guehi was furious that the £35million deal collapsed and will leave Palace in 2025, either on a free transfer in the summer or for a fee in January.
Liverpool remain favourites to sign the England international, with Arne Slot keen to get some cover for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, especially since losing Giovanni Leoni to an ACL injury. But the club are not only looking at Guehi and are therefore monitoring developments elsewhere.
Like Guehi, Upamecano’s current contract with Bayern is due to expire on June 30 and talks over an extension have not made any progress. The France international has been with Bayern for over four years, making 162 appearances for the club, but his time in Bavaria could be drawing to a close.
According to German newspaper Bild, negotiations have reached a stalemate, with Upamecano seeking improved terms to sign again. He is said to be seeking a yearly salary of €16m (£13.9m) plus a signing-on bonus and his agent Moussa Sissoko is aware that team-mate Alphonso Davies took home €17m (£14.7m) when he penned a new deal earlier this year.
Liverpool are among the clubs to have taken note of the situation, along with Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea. Upamecano is understood to be happy at Bayern and is leveraging his position to get a new deal, though, rather than agitating to leave.
Nevertheless, Bayern have earmarked Guehi and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck as alternatives should they lose Upamecano. It means that Guehi and Upamecano’s futures could be tied together, as two of the best centre-backs in Europe with expiring contracts.
Guehi’s position is clear, at least. “I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," said Palace manager Oliver Glasner on Friday.
"The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said; 'No, I want to make something different'. And that's normal. And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together.”
Despite spending £450m on new players in the summer, Liverpool still have funds available to strengthen in the January transfer window. After losing four straight games they have been linked with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who is considered a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, so it remains to be seen what the priority is.