When Liverpool's short-lived pursuit of Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida - who belongs to RB Leipzig and is on loan in the Premier League with Sunderland - came to nought, Reds supporters were frustrated.
Conor Bradley may miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, after all, and Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez are both sidelined at the moment with lesser setbacks.
Geertruida
This is one element of a wider defensive crisis that threatens to consume Liverpool's campaign. Arne Slot's side need reinforcements, but will they get any in the coming hours, with the transfer deadline fast approaching?
The latest on Liverpool's pursuit of defenders
Rejoice! Liverpool are signing a centre-back. While Jeremey Jacquet is one of the most talented young defenders in the world, he won't move to Anfield until the summer.
It's clear that the 20-year-old is shaping up to be Ibrahima Konate's replacement, with his French compatriot's contract expiring at the end of the season.
But Liverpool need more. Virgil van Dijk won't be around forever, and there's no telling what state Giovanni Leoni will be in after the young signing of last summer recovers from the ACL injury that has ruined his maiden year in Liverpool.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano in 2026, with earlier reports from Sky Germany outlining the Reds' interest and the player's curiosity about moving to the Premier League.
Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano
The Les Bleus star is out of contract in June, and while Die Roten continue to push for his contractual renewal, there is a sense from relevant sources that he is waiting to see if Liverpool or Real Madrid make a move.
While this is an exciting story to keep an eye on, it comes with the caveat that Upamecano is on £300k per week at the Allianz Arena, and financial demands could prove a stumbling block in negotiations.
What Upamecano would bring to Liverpool
Geertruida might typically be a right-sided defender, but he is also an accomplished central defender, having played from the position frequently throughout his career and six times across his loan spell with Sunderland so far.
Lutsharel Geertruida - Career Stats by Position
Position
Right-back
Centre-back
Defensive midfield
Left-back
Data via Transfermarkt
He would have been a fine addition, but if Liverpool are indeed refocusing their sights on Bayern Munich's star centre-half, it would be a move that pays off for Slot in the long run.
Upamecano, 27, joined Bayern from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig in 2021 after his £38m buyout clause was met. Already regarded as one of football's top defensive talents, he has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is now regarded as a "world-class" superstar by former coach Julian Nagelsmann.
dayot-upamecano-bayern-munich
Geertruida is an exciting and versatile talent who would be sure to come in handy for the rest of the campaign and over the coming years, should a permanent deal have been struck, but with FSG braced for so much change on Merseyside, they must shoot for the stars.
A steely and combative defensive force, Upamecano is also renowned for his defence-splitting distribution, reminiscent of Van Dijk in that regard. With the Dutchman turning 35 this summer as he enters the final year of his Liverpool career, this kind of profile could prove a jackpot addition.
Geertruida is a creative player. Along with his natural eye for goal, the Dutchman has completed 58.4% of his long balls in the Premier League, putting him in the top 10% for that metric.
There's much to like, but Upamecano is an "elite talent and a joy to watch", as has been noted by scout Jacek Kulig, and there's little question that he has the quality and reputation to make waves at Anfield over the next several years.
Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano and teammates celebrate after the match
With Jacquet in the bag, FSG can now work toward signing another centre-back at the end of the season, a player who has the quality to star for many years to come, ultimately replacing Liverpool's veteran captain and playing a far stronger role than Geertruida would have for the Reds.
Adam-Wharton-Crystal-Palace Related
After Jacquet: Liverpool open talks to sign their own version of Wharton
Liverpool have reportedly held initial talks over a deal to sign a star who could be Arne Slot's own Adam Wharton.