Liverpool dealt blow in the race to sign Bayern Munich star | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Centre-Back Dilemma Intensifies

Liverpool’s defensive stability is once again under scrutiny. According to Football Insider, Arne Slot’s squad is running dangerously thin at centre-back after Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen. With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate the only senior options, the club’s gamble in the market is beginning to look precarious.

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Giovanni Leoni was brought in from Parma as a long-term investment, yet his torn ACL on debut has left the Premier League champions exposed. “Liverpool have just three centre-backs at their disposal in a season in which the Reds are competing in four different competitions,” the report warned.

Transfer Targets and Missed Opportunities

Marc Guehi appeared destined for Anfield on deadline day, yet that move collapsed late on. Liverpool are said to be reluctant to pay over the odds for the England international in January, preferring to gamble on a summer deal despite rival interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Bild reported on 25 September that Liverpool were showing an interest in Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, he was seen as a viable solution. However, Bayern director Max Eberl told Fabrizio Romano: “I’m not surprised that many clubs are interested in Dayot Upamecano… and we are also interested in extending his contract”.

Quansah Clause Complications

Liverpool’s safety net lies in their buy-back clause for Quansah, but it is not active until 2027. Football Insider suggest that Anfield chiefs may attempt to leverage their strong ties with Leverkusen to bring him back earlier, though the cost would likely exceed the £51 million already banked.

Uncertain Path Ahead

“It takes time. We’re trying to conduct the talks and convince him of the Bayern project,” Eberl added on Upamecano. For Liverpool, time is not a luxury. With four competitions to navigate, reinforcements appear essential if they are to maintain their grip on English football.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Excitement at Liverpool’s resurgence under Arne Slot has been tempered by growing concern over the fragility of the squad’s defensive depth. Fans are rightly asking why the club would sell Jarell Quansah in the summer without securing a direct replacement. The gamble on Giovanni Leoni backfired almost instantly, and now the Reds are relying on a thin core of Van Dijk, Gomez and Konate to shoulder the burden of a gruelling campaign.

The speculation around Dayot Upamecano feels more like hopeful chatter than a realistic pursuit, particularly as Bayern Munich have already moved to secure his future. Supporters are sceptical about waiting until the summer to revisit Marc Guehi when European giants are circling. By then, Liverpool could be left empty-handed and vulnerable.

The buy-back clause for Quansah in 2027 is simply too far away to be of comfort. If Liverpool are serious about defending their Premier League crown and competing deep into Europe, a January move may become unavoidable. The fear among supporters is that financial prudence will once again outweigh footballing necessity, and that could cost the club silverware.

For many fans, the hope is that pragmatism prevails. Reinforcements must arrive before fatigue, injuries, and over-reliance on the existing trio derail what has been a promising start under Slot.