Dayot Upamecano has recently been linked with a Liverpool move, with the centre-back now in the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.
Liverpool’s defensive situation has been one of the most talked-about topics in the world of football over the last few weeks.
Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the season due to injury, and the recent form of Ibrahima Konate has been sub-standard, which makes it feel like Liverpool have hardly any options at the back.
This has caused all sorts of rumours to surface, with Marc Guehi’s name often cropping up as a potential target, despite his failed summer transfer.
However, over the last couple of weeks, Upamecano has been the most strongly linked with a Liverpool move as the 26-year-old still hasn’t agreed to an extension with Bayern.
Liverpool may have moved closer to signing Dayot Upamecano as Bayern Munich make Nico Schlotterbeck enquiry
Another centre-back whose name has popped up recently is Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.
The German’s contract is set to expire next year, which means that, in the summer, he could be available for a cut-rate fee.
And, seeing as though he’s a ball-playing centre-back by trade, Schlotterbeck could be perfect for Liverpool.
However, after a new update from Sky German journalist Florian Plettenberg, it feels like Upamecano might be the more likely solution.
“FC Bayern have made an enquiry about Nico Schlotterbeck and have expressed their interest, should he decide not to extend his contract, as revealed last week,” Plettenberg wrote via his personal X account.
“Nothing more has happened at this stage. Borussia Dortmund are optimistic that he will extend his contract beyond 2027.
“He is expected to become one of the club’s top earners, with a gross annual salary of around €10 million.
“The 25 y/o top centre-back has not yet made a decision.”
Dayot Upamecano would be an impressive signing for Liverpool
One thing that has been made abundantly clear this season is that Liverpool need more than just four centre-backs.
Of course, nobody can plan for injuries such as Leoni’s, but the fact that the Anfield outfit ended up missing out on Guehi in the summer could end up being one of Slot’s biggest regrets.
However, the fact that Upamecano will be available for free at the end of the season makes missing out on the Englishman a little less hard to take.
He could end up signing an extension with Bayern, putting an end to all of the rumours, but, on the face of things, that doesn’t feel likely at the moment.
That is, especially since the Bundesliga outfit are now making enquiries about potential moves for centre-backs.
Upamecano may not be the most well-known player to some Liverpool fans, but the fact that he’s held down his place in Bayern’s team for the last couple of years is all that anyone needs to know.
Here’s hoping that, at some point soon, the Reds will have some answers about their centre-back position.
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