Dayot Upamecano will be a Bayern Munich player in 2021-22, meaning Liverpool and Chelsea must go back to the drawing board.
The Premier League rivals had each been linked with a move for the RB Leipzig centre-back as they look to add to their options at heart of defence.
Now they each must look to different targets come the end of the season, with injuries and poor play at the back having derailed the Reds' hopes of winning a second successive league title.
But which centre-backs could be part of Liverpool and Chelsea's plans to pose a more serious challenge to Manchester City next season?
Here we look at four players who could be playing their football at Liverpool or Stamford Bridge next season.
Bremer
The Torino defender is reported to be Liverpool's top close-season target after an impressive season in Serie A.
His 75 clearances are the second-most in the Italian top flight among defenders, while Bremer has also excelled at making recoveries.
Indeed, he has tallied 114, putting him 11th among defenders to have played at least 10 league games. Only four defenders have won more aerial duels than Bremer's 47.
David Alaba
Chelsea have been linked with the man Upamecano is seemingly set to replace, though Alaba’s wage structure may reportedly be a sticking point for the Blues.
Alaba's versatility to play across the back four and in midfield would certainly appeal to Chelsea and former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.
The Austria international has consistently demonstrated his prowess in attack as well as at the back.
He has created at least 17 chances in every season since 2010-11 and has crafted 10 in 19 league appearances this season.
Ibrahima Konate
Could Leipzig be raided again? Both Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with Konate, the France Under-21 international signed from Sochaux in 2017.
Injuries have been a problem for Konate, who has played only 15 league games since the start of last season.
However, when he has played extensively, he has shown his quality.
Konate featured 28 times in the Bundesliga in 2018-19 and was sixth in the league with 100 aerial duels won, contributing to 12 clean sheets, a tally only bettered by two players – his Leipzig team-mates Marcel Halstenberg (15) and Willi Orban (13).
Jules Kounde
Liverpool are thought to be keen on Kounde, but they will likely face competition from across Europe for the Sevilla defender's services.
Kounde has emerged as one of the finest young defenders in European football is again excelling this season.
With 106 recoveries in 2020-21, Kounde – who has also previously been linked with Barcelona and Manchester City – has proven a reliable presence in the heart of defence, while he can also start attacks.
His 136 successful passes into the final third are more than Barca's Clement Lenglet (132) and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (128).
Ramos (84.77) and Lenglet (80.49) have a higher accuracy percentage on those passes than Kounde's 76.84, but at just 22 he has the time and the talent to develop into one of the world's top centre-backs.
Texans sign Schultz and Singletary
The Houston Texans are still over a month away from picking their quarterback of the future, but they are continuing to build around him.
On Monday, the Texans added a starting tight end to their roster, signing Dalton Schultz to a one-year deal worth up to $9million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Schultz did not have the market he might have anticipated after his contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired, but he will have the chance to cash in next offseason if he can thrive in Houston playing with the quarterback whom the Texans will almost certainly select with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Last season, Schultz finished with 577 receiving yards and five touchdowns, having racked up 808 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021.
His 13 receiving touchdowns over the last two seasons rank fifth among tight ends.
Houston also added to their backfield, signing former Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary.
Singletary is unlikely to be the starter following the emergence of Dameon Pierce, who had 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground as a rookie.
Also arriving on a one-year deal, according to multiple reports, Singletary gives the Texans versatile depth at running back.
He has produced over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons. In 2022, he finished with 819 yards rushing and five touchdowns, as well as 280 yards receiving and a further touchdown through the air.
Singletary has 2,197 scrimmage yards since 2021, putting him 20th among running backs across that span.
Bailey, Nicholson headline 23-man Reggae Boyz squad for Mexico CONCACAF Nations League clash
Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey and Spartak Moscow striker Shamar Nicholson headline a 23-man squad named by the Jamaica Football Federation on Monday for the CONCACAF Nations League fixture between the Reggae Boyz and Mexico at the Azteca on March 26.
Bailey and Nicholson are two of a number of players who were not apart of the squad for the two friendlies against the Soca Warriors in Jamaica last week.
Defenders Damion Lowe, Amari’i Bell and Kemar Lawrence are also among those who have returned to the squad while regular skipper Andre Blake remains absent through injury.
The match will commence at 7:00pm JA time (8:00pm ET).
The full squad is as follows: Goalkeepers: Jahmali Waite (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Reading), Amal Knight (Lexington), Defenders: Amari’i Bell (Luton Town), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), Dexter Lembikisa (Wolves), Adrian Mariappa (Unattached), Damion Lowe (Philadelphia Union), Richard King (Cavalier), Javain Brown (Vancouver Whitecaps), Kemar Lawrence (Minnesota United), Midfielders: Jonathan Russell (Barnsley), Bobby Reid (Fulham), Demario Phillips (Mt. Pleasant), Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising), Daniel Johnson (Preston North End), Ravel Morrison (DC United), Kaheem Parris (Dynamo Kyiv), Forwards: Jamal Lowe (Bournemouth), Cory Burke (NY Red Bulls), Trivante Stewart (Mt. Pleasant), Shamar Nicholson (Spartak Moscow), Leon Bailey (Aston Villa)
St Kitts & Nevis announces squad for Nations League matches against St Martin and Aruba
The St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) has revealed the names of the players for the St. Kitts-Nevis Senior Men National Team for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches versus French St. Martin and Aruba on March 23rd and 27th respectively. The squad is listed below.
Goalkeepers: Julani Archibald (Lorca) (Spain), Jamal Jeffers (St. Paul’s Utd FC) and Stephen Vibert (Bath Utd FC)
Defenders: Lois Maynard (Oldham) (UK), Gerard Williams (Trau FC) (India), Raheem Hanley (Stalybridge Celtic (UK), Mikkel Hirst (Romulus) (UK), Andre Burley (Oxford City) (UK), Jameel Ible (Guiseley AFC) (UK), Dijhorn Simmonds (Cayon Rockets FC), and Malique Roberts (Cayon Rockets FC.
Midfielders: Romaine Sawyers (Cardiff City) (UK), Mervin Lewis (Cayon Rockets FC), Tyrese Shade (Swindon Town) (UK), Kalonji Clarke (St. Paul’s Utd FC), Omari Sterling-James (Ebbsfleet) (UK), Tyquan Terrell (St. Peter’s FC) and Yohannes Mitchum (Newtown Utd FC) (SKN).
Forwards: Carlos Bertie (Cayon Rockets FC), Tiquanny Williams (Old Road Jets FC), Tishan Hanley (Prime Bangkok) (Thailand), Keithroy Freeman (St. Paul’s Utd FC) and Harrison Panayiotou (Maidenhead) (UK).
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