Liverpool considering January bid for French defender to ease defensive woes

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Liverpool have plans to table a bid for RB Leipzig French defender Dayot Upamecano, with their defensive frailties this term leaving them with no choice but to make plans for the department.

The 18-year-old was once targeted by Manchester United in 2015, but Austrian outfit RB Salzburg pipped them to the race. Upamecano moved to the Bundesliga in January, and has since seen his stock rise.

The French youth international is also being targeted by Barcelona, and Leipzig want to insert an £89million release clause in a new and improved contract just to shoo off suitors.

Upamecano isn’t the finished product yet, but he has established himself in Leipzig’s XI, playing every minute of their Bundesliga and Champions League campaigns thus far.

The highly-rated defensive prodigy offers superb ball interception, aerial duels and tackling skills, and Liverpool badly lack a consistent performer with these skillsets in their ranks.

Having already secured the signing of Naby Keita from the German team, adding Upamecano would be great business for Liverpool, but snapping up another player from Leipzig won’t be easy for the Reds.