Reported Liverpool Target Signs for Bayern Munich

While everything is pain and sadness, let’s rip off another Band-Aid - Dayot Upamecano, RB Leipzig’s 22 year-old French center-back has signed for current European champions Bayern Munich.

And while we have just reinforced our backline with Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies, this move is worth highlighting, if for no reason other than to provide closure on Liverpool’s Upamecano transfer saga.

The hot pursuit of the young defender goes back to 2018, after Naby Keita’s move to Anfield. This site alone has some 15 (yes FIFTEEN) articles citing various rumors of interest in him.

Reports as recent as early this year suggested that Liverpool had enquired about Upamecano, and were told that “there’s no way” Leipzig would sell him mid-season. Talk shifted to the summer window and Bild’s Christian Falk said that Liverpool and Chelsea were the finalists from England in the race to sign him, along with Bayern over in Germany.

And Bayern it is - the Guardian reports that he will join the German side in July for about €42.5m (estimate based on his release clause).

His teammate Ibrahima Konaté remains an option - Rory Smith of the New York Times believes that he has been Liverpool’s real target all along - and Bild suggests that Chelsea and Manchester United are also eyeing a move for the 21-year old.

Will we sign another central defender in the next few months, will we ever have a capable back line again - who’s to say? Most of us haven’t emerged from being curled up in the fetal position after yesterday’s nightmare. But one thing’s for sure, The Upamecano Chapter is closed for now and Reds fans can move on from him.