Richard Hughes decision highlights key Liverpool transfer target

The January transfer window is now open with Liverpool already being linked with multiple transfers.

The Reds have a couple of problem areas among their first-team squad with Harvey Elliott's season-long loan to Aston Villa also expected to come to an end.

It's clear that improvement is needed across the board but due to their massive summer of spending, it feels unlikely that there's much wriggle room in their war chest.

This is why a lot of the players that the Anfield outfit have been linked with have been free agents such as Marc Guehi.

However, with negotiations for the Englishman not seeming to advance recently, it feels like the Reds' attention may be turned towards another target.

Liverpool could be vying for the transfer of Dayot Upamecano

During the summer of 2026 there are several big-name players who are set to become free agents.

A lot of those players are centre-backs which is good for Liverpool as this is one of the main areas they need to improve upon.

Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have been off the pace on more than one occasion this term which is likely why rumours of a transfer for Joel Ordonez started to appear at the end of December.

Although some reports emerged that a £40 million+ fee was agreed, it seems like Slot and Richard Hughes were just watching from afar with Liverpool no longer wanting the Ecuadorian.

The fee is likely to have been the main stumbling block which is why the transfer of Dayot Upamecano makes plenty of sense.

As mentioned, Liverpool spent an extortionate amount of money in the summer which will have massively depleted their bank account.

And, with the number of free agent centre-backs who are set to be available in the summer, it's clear that the Reds would prefer to sign a freebie.

Of course, there will still be a signing on fee as well as a massive wage but rather than spending over £40 million on a new centre-back, it would work out much better for them if they avoided paying any sort of fee.

Liverpool signing Dayot Upamecano would make plenty of sense

Upamecano has been one of the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga for some time now.

Before he joined Bayern Munich in 2021, the Frenchman was RB Leipzig's star man with the defender forming a solid partnership with Konate.

Since joining the Bavarians, he's gained plenty of Champions League experience and has been one of the clubs longest-serving centre-backs for some time.

At the start of the term, most journalists expected Bayern to lock the 27-year-old down to a new deal as soon as possible.

However, we're now over halfway into the season with negotiations seeming to have stalled.

Upamecano's experience, coupled with the fact that he'd be available for nothing make him an ideal target for Liverpool this term.

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