Liverpool suffer major setback in race to sign Marc Guehi alternative ahead of January

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(Credit: Imago) Mon 29 September 2025 14:52, UK Liverpool are facing the prospect of missing out on another potential centre-back signing this January.Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen this summer, leaving Arne Slot with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konate as his only centre-back options.Giovanni Leoni was signed from Parma, but the young Italian defender suffered a torn ACL on his debut, leaving the Premier League table-toppers exceptionally light at the back.Marc Guehi appeared set to join Liverpool on deadline day, but that deal collapsed, and a move for a player Slot’s side could have moved for as an alternative also appears set to suffer the same fate.Credit: ImagoBayern Munich want to extend Dayot Upamecano contractGerman publication Bild reported on 25 September that Liverpool were showing an interest in Dayot Upamecano.The French international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and the Reds viewed him as a potential replacement for Konate.Konate himself is out of contract next summer and has been on Real Madrid‘s radar. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES 🚨 Bayern director Max Eberl: “I'm not surprised that many clubs are interested in Dayot Upamecano… and we are also interested in extending his contract”.“It takes time.

We're trying to conduct the talks and convince him of the Bayern project”. pic.twitter.com/mrLYgtLx63— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2025 View Tweet However, via Fabrizio Romano on X, Bayern Munich‘s director, Max Eberl, revealed that the German champions are looking to extend the 26-year-old’s contract.He said: “I’m not surprised that many clubs are interested in Dayot Upamecano… and we are also interested in extending his contract”. We’re trying to conduct the talks and convince him of the Bayern project”.Liverpool may hit panic button on Jarell QuansahLiverpool have no interest in paying over the odds to sign Guehi this January, and are willing to take the risk of competition from the likes of Man City and Madrid in the battle to sign the Englishman as a free agent next summer.However, that decision means that in the meantime, Slot has just three centre-backs at his disposal in a season in which the Reds are competing in four different competitions.Jarell Quansah left Liverpool this summer.

(Credit Imago)Liverpool have a buy-back clause in Quansah’s deal that sent him to Germany this summer, but that clause does not come into effect until 2027.The reigning Premier League champions may be inclined to leverage their good relationship with Leverkusen and attempt to negotiate a deal that brings the 22-year-old back to Anfield, although they will have to pay a premium on the previously agreed fee of £51million.