Liverpool and Man Utd on red alert as ‘four-man transfer shortlist’ puts spanner in works

Bayern Munich’s four-striker transfer shortlist has put the cat amongst the pigeons for Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Premier League duo have reportedly pinpointed a selection of attackers in the Bundesliga and beyond ahead of the January transfer window. But they are set to receive stiff competition from Germany’s most powerful club.

Bayern are intent on finding help up front for Harry Kane – the club’s only out-and-out centre-forward. Vincent Kompany’s side have made an unbeaten start in the Bundesliga but added depth would be a bonus in their pursuit to compete on all fronts, having won just one of their first three Champions League clashes this term.

To that end, Bild claim that Bayern have earmarked Omar Marmoush, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda as their four primary attacking transfer targets. While the future of RB Leipzig star Openda does not much concern Liverpool or United, the other three have been heavily linked with moves to the Premier League.

Liverpool are reported to be Bayern’s main competition for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Marmoush. The Egyptian has notched a staggering 16 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) in only nine league games so far this campaign.

At 25 years old, Marmoush is entering his prime, and Liverpool could use the help up top if Mohamed Salah runs down his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

Though United are expected to steer clear of Marmoush, they could go head-to-head with Bayern over Sesko and Gyokeres. The Red Devils are said to be their top competitors in the hunt for both players.

Incoming United manager Ruben Amorim will be desperate to add firepower to his ranks if floundering forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee fail to pick up their game between now and the turn of the year.

Arsenal and Chelsea were hot on the heels of Sesko during the summer. And though he only recently signed a contract extension at RB Leipzig, it is believed to involve a gentleman’s agreement over a future move.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, is in the form of his life after putting three past Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Amorim evidently knows how to get the best out of him, and with 23 goals in 17 matches across all competitions this term, he is one of the hottest centre-forwards on the continent.