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Liverpool changed a lot of players on its roster this summer and is still getting used to the new toys that Arne Slot has to play with. But the transfer rumor mill never stops.
Marc Guehi, who nearly became a Liverpool player on deadline day, was excellent for Crystal Palace on Saturday and put in the kind of calm and measured performance that put him on the Reds' radar. It remains true that he is a target for 2026, when he could move to Anfield on a free at the end of the season.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today. We start with another center-back whose name has popped up a lot this week.
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
How do you know that a player is soon to be out of contract at a major European soccer club? They are usually linked with Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, or a combination of all of them.
The only exception is when the player in question already plays for one of those sides. In this case, Dayot Upamecano is the latest to join that trend, with speculation linking him with a move to Anfield this week.
Liverpool, of course, is short of center-backs at the moment and is also at risk of losing Ibrahima Konate for nothing when his deal expires in the summer of 2021. (He is another to have been linked elsewhere this week, to Real Madrid and PSG).
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Upamecano, according to Fichajes, was already on the radar of both Liverpool and Real Madrid (two of the usual six ticked off). Now, though, Barcelona (a third) has joined the race.
Upamecano is demanding a release clause worth around $169 million (£125 million) in any contract that he signs with the Bundesliga club, according to Sports Boom.
Liverpool.com says: Upamecano is not as good as Konate and would be on massive wages. It is quite possible that the latest round of links with other European giants are agent-led to force Bayern Munich into improving its offer.
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
Given it signed Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the summer, it shouldn't be a huge shock that Liverpool isn't looking for another number nine.
Julian Alvarez is liked, but is valued at upwards of $135 million (£100 million) won't be pursued, Football Insider says.
What are the next areas for upgrading? Center-back would seem like the obvious one. In the long term, Liverpool will need to find a replacement for both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
In terms of depth, the Reds are well stocked in most positions. In time, those who came in this summer will show their worth too, with the best of Isak and Florian Wirtz still very much to come.
Liverpool.com says: This summer was a one-off in terms of going so big. Having got their business sorted now, the Reds are in a good place moving forward, with future windows set to be much quieter.
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