Liverpool eyeing Bayern Munich star for potential free transfer – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Defensive Dilemma Intensifies as Bayern Enter the Fray

Liverpool’s long-running pursuit of Marc Guehi is entering dangerous territory, with multiple European giants looking to hijack their plans. According to TeamTalk, the Reds “came frustratingly close to landing Guehi over the summer” before Crystal Palace “pulled the plug on deadline day”. That failed move has allowed the market to develop and the competition has multiplied significantly.

Bayern Complicate Liverpool’s Guehi Strategy

Spanish titans Real Madrid and Barcelona are circling, but Bayern Munich have emerged as the most credible threat. The Bundesliga club “have already held preliminary talks with Guehi’s camp” and the situation has escalated as Dayot Upamecano edges towards the final months of his contract. Should the Frenchman depart, Bayern could pivot fully towards Guehi.

In a fascinating twist, Liverpool themselves could benefit from Upamecano’s stand-off. Transfer insider Dean Jones told TeamTalk, “Liverpool are definitely keen on the potential of signing Upamecano and it’s probably getting to the point that he is a prime target outside of Guehi.” It is rare for two elite-level defenders to have their futures so closely intertwined, yet this scenario is shaping into a transfer chess match rather than a traditional negotiation.

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Jones added, “This is all pretty tangled up, given that Guehi is wanted by Bayern – and the Germans are also trying to tie Upamecano to a new contract.” Bayern’s internal priorities are crucial here. If they renew Upamecano, Liverpool gain a clear run at Guehi. If they lose patience and move on, Liverpool will likely have to choose between fighting Bayern for Guehi or accelerating their push for Upamecano.

Pre-Contract Dominoes Could Fall Quickly

The clock is ticking. From January 1, Liverpool will be legally allowed to finalise a pre-contract agreement with Upamecano “assuming he hasn’t signed a new deal with Bayern by then”. The same date also allows Bayern to do exactly the same with Guehi. Liverpool, therefore, are not simply competing with Bayern in parallel. They are in a direct head-to-head.

BILD’s contrasting reports have only muddied the waters. One day it was claimed that Bayern had “broadly agreed a new base salary”, the next that “a full breakthrough is not close”. The reported “big discrepancy relating to the sign-on fee” leaves things wide open.

Strategic Patience Or Transfer Gamble?

Liverpool will reportedly “have to wait for now”, with Bayern prioritising Upamecano’s situation. Yet patience is a luxury that rarely pays off in the modern market. Nottingham Forest’s Murillo has even been floated as a Bayern contingency. Jones makes clear the distinction: Murillo would be “very expensive” while Guehi “would be on a free”. Liverpool must decide whether this is an opportunity or a threat.

At this point, what is certain is that “the outcome of that scenario will have big implications all round”. Liverpool have positioned themselves well, but they are no longer dictating terms. They are reacting, monitoring, calculating. Whichever way it breaks, one elite defender will be available — but so will half of Europe.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this situation is as intriguing as it is unnerving. The recruitment team have clearly lined up two outstanding profiles in Guehi and Upamecano, both capable of starting alongside Virgil van Dijk and eventually succeeding him. However, leaving both situations in limbo until January feels like walking into a poker table where Bayern are holding slightly stronger cards.

Guehi, on a free transfer, is an absolute no-brainer. Premier League proven, calm under pressure, homegrown, tactically flexible. If Liverpool let him fall into Bayern’s hands without a fight, there will be justified frustration. That said, Upamecano brings European pedigree and immediate Champions League-winning experience. Under Arne Slot’s aggressive pressing blueprint, his recovery pace and front-foot instincts could be transformative.

The ideal play is simple — force Bayern into making the first move. If they re-sign Upamecano, Liverpool must move instantly for Guehi. If Bayern hesitate, Liverpool should pivot and secure Upamecano before Manchester United even get their act together. Dean Jones even stated that United are “reportedly getting ‘serious’” for his signing. That alone should add urgency.

Slot’s title-winning debut season was built on structure and composure. The next phase will be about evolution rather than revolution. One of Guehi or Upamecano would represent precisely that kind of upgrade. Liverpool cannot afford to be spectators in their own rebuild.