Liverpool, September 24, 2025 – In a dramatic twist to the ongoing transfer saga that has gripped Anfield, Liverpool FC has reportedly made a formal approach for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, positioning the towering Frenchman as a prime alternative to their summer heartbreak, Marc Guehi. The move, which could see the Reds splash out on a deal laced with a staggering £105million release clause, has sent shockwaves through the Premier League – and left Crystal Palace reeling amid fears of losing their talismanic captain for nothing.
The Merseyside giants were left stunned and frustrated just weeks ago when a meticulously negotiated £35million deal for Guehi collapsed in the dying embers of the summer window. Despite personal terms being agreed and the England international completing a medical at Selhurst Park, Palace pulled the plug at the eleventh hour, citing internal concerns over squad depth and valuation. Guehi, whose contract expires at the end of the season, now stands on the precipice of a free transfer next summer, with reports suggesting Liverpool could reignite their pursuit in January or wait to pounce Bosman-style.
But with Real Madrid emerging as frontrunners to snag the 24-year-old – and Bayern Munich themselves circling as a potential destination – Liverpool’s recruitment team has wasted no time in activating Plan B. According to sources close to the club, the Reds have lodged a formal enquiry with Bayern for Upamecano, the 26-year-old powerhouse whose own deal at the Allianz Arena winds down in June 2026. This isn’t mere window shopping; insiders describe it as a “clear intent to negotiate,” with Liverpool viewing the ex-RB Leipzig star as the perfect Guehi proxy – a left-footed, ball-playing centre-back with Premier League pedigree and international nous.
Upamecano’s situation mirrors Guehi’s in tantalising fashion: both are out of contract in 2026, both command release clauses north of £100million in their current deals, and both are demanding ironclad guarantees for their next moves. German outlet Abendzeitung dropped the bombshell over the weekend, revealing that Upamecano has laid down his stall for any extension or switch – an eye-watering €20million (£17.5million) annual salary, plus a release clause mirroring his existing €120million (£105million) buyout at Bayern. “He’s not leaving without security,” one source told the Munich-based paper, underscoring the defender’s leverage as a linchpin in Vincent Kompany’s backline.
Liverpool’s interest isn’t new; the club has long admired Upamecano’s blend of physicality and poise, qualities that would slot seamlessly into Arne Slot’s high-line system alongside Virgil van Dijk. Reports from Graeme Bailey at Rousing The Kop suggest the Reds have been “keeping tabs for years,” and with Ibrahima Konate’s future uncertain – the Frenchman has rejected multiple contract offers amid his own expiring deal – Upamecano represents a no-brainer contingency. “Guehi is priority one, but Upamecano’s availability changes everything,” Bailey noted. “Liverpool know his demands, and they’re prepared to meet them.”
The plot thickens with Real Madrid’s parallel pursuit, as Bild reports Los Blancos lining up a pre-contract swoop to bolster their aging defence. Upamecano’s camp has reportedly informed Bayern of his Real wishlist, potentially scuppering the German champions’ extension talks and opening the door for a January bidding war. For Liverpool, this is transfer poker at its finest: secure Upamecano now on a cut-price deal (Bayern’s reluctance to pay his wage hike could force a mid-season sale), or risk a free-agent frenzy next summer.
Palace, meanwhile, are in meltdown mode. Chairman Steve Parish’s admission that Guehi’s exit is “likely” unless he pens fresh terms has fuelled panic at Selhurst Park, especially with Bayern now in the mix as a fallback if they lose Upamecano. “It’s a nightmare scenario,” a Palace insider lamented. “We blocked the Liverpool deal thinking we could keep him, but now we’re staring at nothing.” Guehi’s form – a rock in Palace’s surprise top-half push – has only heightened the stakes, with the Eagles desperate to avoid a repeat of Wilfried Zaha’s acrimonious free exit.
Slot, ever the pragmatist, has remained coy in his pre-match pressers, but the Dutchman’s summer blueprint screamed defensive reinforcement. With eight new faces already bedded in – including blockbuster arrivals like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz – Liverpool sit atop the Premier League, unbeaten and imperious. Yet the ghost of last season’s injury crises lingers, and Upamecano’s arrival would banish it for good.
As the January window looms, all eyes are on Anfield. Will the Reds pull off a coup that trumps their Guehi near-miss, or will Madrid’s Galactico glamour prove too seductive for Upamecano? One thing’s certain: this transfer shock has the football world hooked, and Liverpool are playing to win.