Dayot Upamecano is Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back target in January, according to journalist Ian McGarry.
The Reds find themselves with a centre-back shortage after the injury to Virgil van Dijk last weekend, with the Dutchman potentially out for the season.
It means Jurgen Klopp could look to bolster his defensive options when the next transfer window opens in January, in order to make up for Van Dijk’s noticeable absence.
Speaking on The Transfer Window podcast on Tuesday, McGarry claimed Liverpool consider RB Leipzig star Upamecano their primary target:
What we have learned from our sources here at Transfer Window HQ is that Dayot Upamecano, the RB Leipzig centre half, is Liverpool’s first choice in terms of a new centre-half to buy.
He was the defender who Jurgen Klopp identified way before this summer’s window as someone who should be coming into Anfield to replace Dejan Lovren, who, as we know, left the club in the summer.
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Liverpool have been linked with Upamecano in the past, so it is no great surprise that his name keeps appearing in the rumour mill.
The Frenchman does look a great prospect, though, and at just 21, he wouldn’t just be a short-term solution.
In fact, the Leipzig centre-back could even be viewed as a long-term replacement for Van Dijk, should Liverpool rate him that highly.
Upamecano has won an average of 1.8 aerial duels per game in the Bundesliga this season, and enjoyed an impressive pass completion rate of 90.6 percent.
This suggests that the youngster possesses both Van Dijk’s quality in the air and on the ball – the Liverpool superstar has a pass completion rate of 90 percent in the Premier League in 2020/21 – meaning he could be a tailor-made January arrival.
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