Exclusive with Graeme Bailey.
Liverpool may enter the race to sign Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano on a free transfer next summer, Rousing The Kop can reveal.
The Reds are keen to bring in another centre-back following their failed attempt to sign Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day.
And while RTK understands that Guehi remains the first choice at Anfield, Liverpool are beginning to assess other options as well.
Upamecano has emerged as one possible alternative, with the Frenchman’s contract at Bayern expiring at the end of the current campaign.
Liverpool previously scouted Upamecano while he partnered Ibrahima Konate at RB Leipzig. Although the Reds opted to sign Konate, his French national team colleague has remained on their radar.
Liverpool monitoring Dayot Upamecano’s situation
Liverpool are dealing with their own contract calamity at centre-half this season, with Konate currently slated to depart on a free transfer next summer.
However, sources have told RTK that Liverpool are still hoping to extend their No. 5’s stay at Anfield.
The October and November international breaks are seen as key junctures in negotiations, and it is understood that Konate could yet put pen to paper on a new deal.
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In the meantime, Liverpool are exploring their options, with Upamecano on the radar should he fail to agree his own extension in Munich.
As transfer expert Graeme Bailey exclusively explains to RTK, the France international is seen as being on a similar level to Konate and Guehi.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 3 |  TottenhamTottenham | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
| 4 |  BournemouthBournemouth | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
“I think Marc Guehi is their first choice, but it wouldn’t shock me if Dayot Upamecano becomes available and Liverpool are interested,” says Bailey.
“Konate, Guehi and Upamecano are all at a similar level. I do know Liverpool looked at him previously, they know all about him.”
Liverpool have other centre-back options
It is not only Guehi and Upamecano who are attracting interest from Liverpool as they begin to plan for next summer.
As Bailey explains, the centre-half market is set to be a busy one, with plenty of dominoes expected to fall.
“The centre-back dominoes are going to be fascinating,” says the reporter. “Konate and Guehi are the big ones, but William Saliba as well. If he turns down that contract, what does that do for Real Madrid? What does it do for Barcelona? There’s room for another centre-half at Barca. There’s all sorts of scenarios here that can play out.”
In terms of Liverpool, Bailey puts forward the names of Joel Ordonez, Jarrad Branthwaite, Murillo and Charlie Cresswell as ones to watch, with the Reds potentially targeting two new defenders.
“I think Joel Ordonez has got a big part to play, we know Liverpool like him,” he says. “They’re still looking at the likes of him and other people available. If Murillo and Branthwaite become available, do Liverpool come in? Charlie Cresswell is an interesting one to keep an eye on, perhaps not necessarily for Liverpool, but never say never.”
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