Liverpool are one of the clubs chasing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, according to Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The Reds have been scouring the transfer market for central defenders ever since Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez suffered serious knee injuries although they have accelerated that search since adding names to the injury list.
As the ECHO have reported , Preston defender Ben Davies is on the verge of a £500,000 move, while Schalke’s Ozan Kabak could also join before if the German club can sign a replacement in time.
If Liverpool can get both deals over the line before the 11pm transfer deadline then Davies and Kabak will provide immediate cover at centre-back following further injuries to Fabinho and Joel Matip.
Jordan Henderson played alongside Nat Phillips in central defence for the Reds’ 3-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday night, but that partnership is one of a dozen temporary solutions.
It's been claimed Upamecano has been on the radar for Liverpool’s scouting department for some time, with the 22-year-old Frenchman considered one of the most promising young defenders in Europe.
He is contracted with Leipzig until 2023, but reportedly has a €42million (£37m) release clause in his deal, which has alerted other clubs to his potential.
Liverpool are one of those interested in Upamecano and are joined by Chelsea and Bayern Munich, according to Bayern supremo Rummenigge.
“There are two other clubs interested in Dayot,” Rummenigge told Sky Germany. “We will lose David Alaba. It depends on the player now.
“When clubs like Chelsea or Liverpool are interested in him, it shows what qualities the players have.”
Bayern’s interest in the French international is no secret, with the club's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic openly admitting that he held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with his agent.
"Of course we are thinking about him,” he said last week. “We had a good meeting with his agents yesterday. Let’s see what happens”
Meanwhile, Rummenigge previously stated: "We will of course deal with it, not only with this player, but in principle on the positions where we want to do and have to do something.”
Bayern look set to lose Alaba in the summer, with the Austrian defender reportedly keen on a move to Real Madrid, while Jerome Boateng’s contract is also set to expire in June.
Upamecano has made 25 appearances for Leipzig this season across all competitions and made his France debut in September against Sweden.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will follow up on their interest in Upamecano in the summer, but the youngster is certainly a wanted man.
