Liverpool have a huge problem in their defence at the moment.
The Reds are without Fabinho, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk for the foreseeable future, and in order to plug those gaps they may need to dip into the transfer market in January.
One man they’ve recently been linked with is RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano, but unfortunately, they’re not the only team in for him.
The Frenchman has been linked with a whole host of elite European outfits, but it seems as though many of them are holding off until next summer when his £38 million release clause comes into effect.
However, Liverpool may be able to jump the queue by getting in early in January.
Yes, Upamecano’s release clause doesn’t come into effect until the summer, but if Leipzig are resigned to losing him for £38 million in the summer, they may be tempted to accept a slightly higher offer six months earlier.
If Liverpool presented an offer worth more than Upamecano’s release clause in January that would be very tempting for Leipzig, and it would give them the advantage in that race.
The other clubs linked with Upamecano aren’t as desperate for a centre-half as Liverpool are right now, so a bid in January would potentially catch them off guard and allow the Reds to jump to the front of the queue.
We’ve seen this before, Chelsea managed to sign N’Golo Kante for a higher fee than his release clause that would have allowed him to join any Champions League side for just £20 million.
Despite not being in the Champions League, Chelsea managed to circumvent that clause, by offering Leicester something a little more lucrative, and Liverpool should do something similar here.
Michael Edwards would be wise to get Upamecano through the door as soon as possible.
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