RB LEIPZIG are 'expecting' to receive a January approach from Liverpool for Dayor Upamecano, according to reports.

The Reds are short at centre-back, following Virgil van Dijk's horror, potentially season-ending, injury sustained against Everton last weekend.

And with Dejan Lovren having swapped Merseyside for Saint Petersburg over the summer, Jurgen Klopp's men are believed to be in the market for a new central defender.

According to Sunday World, RB Leipzig are braced to receive bids for their star stopper Upamecano, 21, in January.

And an offer in excess of £40million would likely be enough to sign the French international.

Upamecano has long been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal, although neither have been able to agree a deal – the player instead signing a new contract last summer.

While it expires in 2023, however, it is believed to possess a £36.5m release clause, which will come into play from next summer onwards.

With Van Dijk injured, Liverpool may not be able to wait that long – with former talisman Jamie Carragher crying out for defensive reinforcements.

He said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football: "There's a young guy everybody is talking about, Upamecano, who's at Leipzig. There's talk of him.

"He's not the profile of Van Dijk, I think he's only 6ft 1in or 6ft 2in, but if that's who Liverpool wanted next summer, bring it forward, pay extra money and do it on January 1.

"That means Liverpool would have to get through the next 11 league games without Virgil van Dijk.

"I think they have to go big in terms of a signing."

Upamecano could easily have already been turning out in red in the North West, however, for Liverpool's bitter rivals Man United.

SunSport exclusively revealed that the Red Devils showed him around their Carrington training base five years ago ahead of a mooted move from Valenciennes.

But it broke down over United's refusal to up their offer from £500,000 to £700,000.

He was then snapped up by RB Salzburg just two weeks later, before eventually moving to Germany.

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