Liverpool plot audacious Upamecano swoop as Slot future-proofs his back line

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are lining up their next big defensive statement, and the name at the top of the board is Dayot Upamecano. With Ibrahima Konate’s contract ticking down and heavyweight suitors sniffing around, the Reds are prepared to move early, sounding out a January pre-contract to land Bayern Munich’s French powerhouse for the 2026/27 campaign.

Why Upamecano makes sense for Slot

Upamecano has been operating at the sharp end of European football for years, collecting league titles in Germany and stacking up serious minutes in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. He’s a regular for France, part of the side that reached the World Cup final in 2022 and the Euro 2024 last four. The bloke oozes pedigree and, crucially, he’s been labelled a symbol of consistency in Munich — exactly the profile you want marshalling a high line under Slot.

This is the sort of move that could define the Slot era at Anfield: proven class, peak-age profile, and a deal structure that protects the club’s long-term planning.

Guehi vs Upamecano: the calibre call

Liverpool were inches away from nabbing Marc Guehi in the dying embers of the summer window before Crystal Palace pulled the plug when they couldn’t source a replacement. Guehi could be back on the radar in January for a trimmed fee — or for nothing in the summer — but Upamecano sits in the same contract boat at Bayern. When you stack them side by side, the Bayern defender’s top-level mileage and trophy cabinet give him the edge. For a side aiming to stay at the summit, you lean towards certainty.

The Konate conundrum and Real’s lurking presence

Konate’s situation is the hinge on which all this swings. With less than a year left on his deal, he’s inevitably drawing admiring glances from Europe’s elite. Real Madrid, who’ve shown a knack for snapping up superstars on frees in recent seasons — see Kylian Mbappe — could fancy another clever swoop if the opportunity presents itself. That’s why Liverpool are eyeing the pre-contract route with Upamecano in January, staying on the front foot rather than playing catch-up next summer.

Bayern’s stance and the numbers this season

Despite the noise, Bayern are hopeful of keeping their man. Under Vincent Kompany, they’ve yet to blink in nine outings across all competitions, and Upamecano has featured in eight of them, starting seven — hardly the usage of a player being eased out. The message from Germany is clear: there’s no fire sale here, which is why a clean pre-contract might be the smoothest path for Liverpool.

Transfer temperature: warm and rising

Sources in Germany suggest Liverpool are firmly among the clubs monitoring the situation, and the fit looks tidy: a front-foot defender with elite experience who can drop straight into Slot’s framework. If Konate moves on, the succession plan is ready-made; if he stays, you’ve got two high-end operators and the sort of depth that wins titles.

Pundit’s verdict

If you’re asking where I’d put my chips, the smarter play is Upamecano over Guehi right now — not a knock on the Palace skipper, just a nod to the Bayern man’s proven ceiling. Keep an eye on January; if Liverpool press the button, this could be the defensive signing that keeps the champions’ window wide open. And if you’re weighing up the odds off the pitch, our homepage is your gateway to the best betting sites for the latest markets.