LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 13, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp before the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Dayot Upamecano linked with Liverpool, third Jurgen Klopp transfer target from RB Leipzig

The Reds have previously been linked to the young French defender, and reports have again emerged suggesting he interests the Anfield club.

Liverpool’s defensive woes haven’t been a secret over the last few seasons, and the sheer volume of players the club is linked with who feature across the back four only amplifies that fact.

The latest name in the frame is RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano, a powerful defender who can feature both centrally in the back line and as a holding midfielder.

Bild report (via Mirror) that Jurgen Klopp‘s side have been tracking Upamecano since he switched RB Salzburg for Leipzig in January—though in truth rumours over Anfield interest started out before that move.

There was early speculation that Liverpool thought highly of the then-17-year-old, but that any move would have been difficult as the natural step-up from the Austrian league would be the intra-RB transfer to Leipzig and the Bundesliga.

Upamecano has been a resilient and consistent performer at his new club, almost exclusively at centre-back, while he featured in front of the back four for Salzburg in the early part of 2016/17—arguably another position the Reds need to look at reinforcements for.

Bild further report that RBL are to offer an improved contract to the teenager, with a €100 million release clause.

RB Leipzig is not new territory for Liverpool’s scouting department.

RB Leipzig's Naby Keita in action during the pre season match at the Emirates Stadium, London. 29th July 2017. Photo: David Klein/Sportimage via PA Images

Naby Keita is already set to join next summer after the Reds agreed an early deal on his 2018 release clause, while centre-forward Timo Werner has been an oft-mentioned option who Klopp rates highly.

Emil Forsberg was also once thought to be a target for Liverpool, a rumour which has since gone quiet, while to continue the links, RB Leipzig’s goalkeeper is former Reds backup stopper Peter Gulacsi.

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