Liverpool have missed out on a ‘superb centre-half’ with Bayern Munich confirming the signing of Dayot Upamecano from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig, former Anfield ace Danny Murphy tells talkSPORT (15 February, 11.30am).
Bayern are currently hurtling towards a ninth successive domestic crown.
And, with arguably football’s next great centre-back heading to the Allianz Arena – from a direct Bundesliga rival no less – it seems unlikely that the shiny old shield will be changing hands next year either.
Because Bayern have not only signed a defender of truly world-class potential – strengthening a backline that has looked uncharacteristically brittle this term – they have also just weakened an RB Leipzig side who have emerged as perhaps their closest challenges in recent years.
Upamecano agreed a five-year deal at FC Hollywood on Sunday, becoming the newest member of an all-star cast for a fee of £38 million (BBC).
This comes just three weeks after The Mirror reported that Jurgen Klopp had identified the France international as an ideal partner for Virgil van Dijk at Anfield.
And Murphy believes that Bayern, who matched Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side by lifting six trophies in a calender year recently, will be even more fearsome with Upamecano at the back.
“I’m sure he’s settled in Germany, he might have learned the language, his family might be settled there,” Murphy says.
“What (Bayern) are getting is a superb centre-half, he reads the game well, he’s a super athlete; the full package really. He ticks every box you would want from a centre half.
“It makes Munich even stronger than they are!”
Just to rub salt into the wounds, Liverpool’s injury-hit backline was ripped to shreds by a rampant Leicester City just hours before Upamecano’s unveiling.
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