Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has named Dayot Upamecano as a suitable replacement for injured Liverpool star Virgil Van Dijk.
Van Dijk could miss up to seven months with a cruciate ligament injury, which he suffered in the Merseyside derby at the weekend.
Do Liverpool need Dayot Upamecano?
Currently, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are Liverpool’s options at centre back, with Van Dijk injured and Dejan Lovren’s summer departure.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher believes that Liverpool should aim to sign RB Leipzig centre-back Upamecano during the January transfer window.
With this in mind, here are five facts about the 21-year-old Frenchman.
Getting to know Dayot Upamecano
The defender’s full name is Dayotchanculle Oswald Upamecano. Although he was born in Évreux, France in 1998, Upamecano is of Bissau-Guinean descent.
Rising through the ranks
In 2014, Upamecano made his debut for France under 16’s and continued to represent his national side at each level until his senior debut in September 2020.
He scored his first goal representing France for the under 18’s at the age of 16. On September 8th of this year, he scored his first goal for the senior side in a 4-2 win against Croatia.
Bundesliga Bargain
In January 2017, RB Leipzig signed Upamecano from Austrian side RB Salzburg for £9 million.
Since then, the young centre back has been the subject of interest for some of Europe’s best clubs, seemingly including Manchester United, and could cost Liverpool up to £40 million.
Goal drought
Although his defensive ability stands out, it is rare to see Upamecano convert at the other end of the field.
The Frenchman scored three goals during the Bundesliga 2017/2018 season, but he has not scored in the league since May 12th 2018.
Taste of Success
Upamecano enjoyed a successful spell at RB Salzburg before his move to Germany. In 2017, he won the Austrian Bundesliga league title where he played 15 appearances.
He also made two league appearances for Salzburg when they won the 2015/2016 league title.
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