Dayot Upamecano: PSG Enter Free Agent Race for Bayern Defender Alongside Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as serious contenders in the race to sign Dayot Upamecano on a free transfer, with the Bayern Munich defender’s contract situation creating one of the transfer market’s most intriguing sagas. The European champions are actively involved in discussions surrounding the French international, whose deal at the Allianz Arena expires in June 2026, setting up a potential bidding war with Real Madrid for his signature.

Paris Saint-Germain are planning to submit an offer for Dayot Upamecano if he decides not to extend his contract with Bayern Munich, according to RMC Sport. The drawn-out contract saga involving the 27-year-old French defender is fueling speculation about his future, with PSG monitoring developments closely as Bayern struggle to finalize renewal terms.

This development represents a significant opportunity for PSG to strengthen their defensive ranks with a proven Champions League performer while simultaneously addressing their strategic priority of adding elite French talent to the squad. However, Real Madrid’s parallel interest—including reported verbal agreements—creates fierce competition for Upamecano’s services.

Contract Stalemate Creates Transfer Opportunity

Dayot Upamecano’s current situation stems from protracted negotiations between Bayern Munich and his representatives that have failed to reach resolution despite months of discussions. Upamecano’s current deal expires at the end of this season, and the Bavarians are working hard to extend his stay, but there hasn’t been any significant development in the renewal talks.

The primary obstacle centers on financial demands that Bayern find difficult to accommodate within their revised wage structure strategy.

The Bundesliga champions have tabled a lucrative five-year deal with an increased salary until 2031, which will make him one of the club’s top earners, however, the Frenchman’s camp are demanding a substantial signing bonus worth around €20 million, which is proving to be a sticking point in the negotiations.

When Alphonso Davies extended his contract in February, he received a signing bonus of €17 million, and Upamecano is reportedly seeking a similar amount, but Bayern are unwilling to meet that demand. This precedent creates a challenging negotiating position for Bayern, who have recently committed significant resources to extending multiple star players including Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, and the aforementioned Davies.

Bayern’s reluctance stems from a strategic shift toward fiscal discipline following heavy expenditure on contract renewals and their anticipated pursuit of Florian Wirtz, expected to cost upwards of €150 million. In the executive suite, they are betting that Upamecano might be willing to make financial concessions for further collaboration with Vincent Kompany, though this gamble grows riskier as January approaches.

PSG’s Strategic Interest and Positioning

Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit of Dayot Upamecano aligns perfectly with their established transfer strategy emphasizing French talent acquisition. PSG have steadily focused on bringing in top French talent in recent transfer windows, adding players like Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, and Lucas Chevalier. This approach seems set to continue as the club seeks to bolster its defensive options.

PSG need more quality and depth in the defensive unit, and joining the Ligue 1 champions could be an attractive proposition for Upamecano as they have recently won the league title and the UEFA Champions League. Les Parisiens possess an ambitious project and world-class squad under Luis Enrique’s management, factors that could appeal to the defender contemplating his next career move.

French media figure Daniel Riolo has strongly advocated for PSG’s pursuit. Speaking on After Foot on RMC, journalist Daniel Riolo voiced his full support for Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit of Dayot Upamecano, stating “Obviously, he’s THE player they should go for”. Riolo acknowledged Bayern would try convincing the 27-year-old to stay but emphasized: “If, in that battle of persuasion, he wants to come back to France… then yes, for PSG it would be fantastic.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed PSG’s monitoring. Romano says PSG are keeping tabs on Upamecano and he could join the club in the summer of 2026, but only if he chooses not to extend his contract with Bayern Munich, allowing him to arrive on a free transfer.

When directly asked about PSG’s interest, Upamecano remained diplomatically evasive. When questioned about this by L’Equipe, the 27-year-old defender expressed his gratitude at the idea of clubs showing interest in him: “I’m fine with that (he smiles). I’m under contract with Bayern. I have goals. I’m very grateful that there are clubs interested in me,” he said.

However, he did acknowledge PSG’s stature. Ahead of France’s match against Ukraine, Upamecano said: “Paris Saint-Germain is a very, very big club, with a great coach and magnificent players. But for now, my mind isn’t on that. I’m focused on Bayern Munich and the French national team”.

Real Madrid’s Competing Interest

Paris Saint-Germain faces formidable competition from Real Madrid, who have reportedly taken concrete steps toward securing Upamecano’s signature. According to French journalist Santi Aouna, Real Madrid and Dayot Upamecano are close to a verbal agreement, with Real Madrid leading the race to sign the French international for now.

Multiple reports suggest advanced negotiations between Madrid and Upamecano’s camp. According to reports from SPORT BILD and Foot Mercato, the 27-year-old has held preliminary talks with Madrid officials, who are eager to take advantage of his ongoing contract uncertainty at Bayern.

Los Blancos have reportedly made defensive reinforcement a top priority, with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, and the club are seeking a new leader for their backline. Upamecano fits perfectly into Florentino Perez’s recruitment model: a proven international with Champions League pedigree, available without a transfer fee, and familiar with Real Madrid’s strong French contingent including Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.

According to Foot Mercato, it is reported that Xabi Alonso personally insisted on the arrival of the 27-year-old Frenchman, adding managerial endorsement to Madrid’s pursuit. Alonso’s defensive expertise and ability to develop center-backs could prove influential in Upamecano’s decision-making process.

However, not all sources confirm a done deal. According to Sky Sport DE, Real Madrid has concrete interest in Dayot Upamecano, but there is currently no verbal agreement between the parties, though Real Madrid would be willing to make an offer if Upamecano’s contract renewal with Bayern Munich were to fail. This suggests negotiations remain fluid rather than concluded.

Bayern Munich’s Response and Optimism

Despite external interest, Bayern Munich remains publicly confident about retaining Upamecano. Bayern president Herbert Hainer stated: “We’re in talks with Upamecano. I believe he feels comfortable in Munich. It’s obviously an important decision for him as well. In general, he likes it very much at Bayern. We’d like to keep him. I’m cautiously optimistic“.

Sporting director Christoph Freund called extending Upamecano’s contract the club’s “main goal,” with the French international now in the final year of his deal and eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in less than two months.

Bayern’s confidence rests partially on Vincent Kompany’s influence. Upamecano’s exceptional form, which has triggered this contract race, is widely credited to new manager Vincent Kompany, after struggling for consistency under previous bosses Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.

The defender himself has praised Kompany’s impact. “We all watched him when we were young; he was a legend for Belgium and Manchester City,” Upamecano said in a recent interview. “He was a very aggressive defender in duels, a leader on the pitch too, a good example for me. He helps me a lot; we do a lot of videos, he talks to me about my positioning. With him, it’s always very intense“.

Most recently, Upamecano reiterated his contentment. “It has nothing to do with money. I talk a lot with Max Eberl and Christoph Freund. I’m happy here, I’m having a good season, I’m doing my job, and I’m giving everything for this club. Let’s see what happens,” said Upamecano.

However, club legend Oliver Kahn criticized Bayern’s negotiating position. “The question that always arises is: why did you let Dayot Upamecano enter the final year of his contract in the first place?” Kahn said. “When you’re in the final year of a contract, you’re in a very bad position as a club unless you pay a lot of money“.

Upamecano’s Elite Performance Level

The intense competition for Upamecano’s signature reflects his exceptional recent form under Kompany’s guidance. Upamecano is arguably one of the best centre-backs in the world on the ball, with the 27-year-old ranked ninth amongst all Bundesliga players for passes into the final third this season (58).

His transformation from inconsistent to elite has been remarkable. Bayern’s current unbeaten streak—winning 16 of 17 matches across all competitions—features Upamecano as a defensive cornerstone. His commanding performance in Bayern’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain reportedly solidified Madrid’s interest, ironically against the very club now pursuing him.

Upamecano joined Bayern from RB Leipzig in 2021 for €42.5 million and has since made 154 competitive appearances, scoring five goals and providing ten assists. A French international with 30 caps and two goals, he brings both club and international experience to any potential destination.

The defender’s recent comments suggest confidence in his ongoing development. When asked if he’s in the form of his career, Upamecano responded: “No. I can give even more,” indicating belief in further improvement despite his current elite level.

Additional Competitors in the Mix

Beyond PSG and Real Madrid, other European giants maintain interest. Bayern insider Christian Falk reported: “It is true that Liverpool are looking at Dayot Upamecano. And yes, if Liverpool can get a player like Dayot Upamecano for free, that’s pretty good business. That said, every top club in the world is looking at him; I heard that Real Madrid is very, very interested in him. Also, the player is understood to be on the list at Manchester United and PSG”.

According to Ekrem Konur, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona are interested in Dayot Upamecano as well, and the 26-year-old has been an important player for the German club. Each club presents distinct advantages:

Liverpool seeks long-term planning for life after Virgil van Dijk, with additional uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation. The Premier League platform and Jurgen Klopp’s (now Arne Slot’s) project offer appeal, though Champions League qualification questions may complicate matters.

Manchester United under Erik ten Hag requires defensive reinforcement and could offer substantial wages, though their current trajectory and European competition status create doubts about their competitiveness for elite targets.

Barcelona face financial constraints but possess La Liga appeal and historical prestige. Their creative financial engineering could facilitate a deal, though salary limitations may prove prohibitive.

Chelsea continue aggressive squad building under their new ownership model, offering financial resources and London appeal, though squad instability and managerial uncertainty present concerns.

Transfer Timeline and Key Decision Points

The situation will reach critical junctures at specific dates:

Time is ticking. Other clubs will have their chance to formally talk to Upamecano in the coming months. Surely, at least one of them would be willing to pay Upamecano’s requested signing bonus. This creates urgency for Bayern to resolve matters before losing negotiating leverage entirely.

Bayern have identified contingency plans should Upamecano depart. Other reports suggest Bayern have identified Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck as a contingency plan should Upamecano opt to leave. However, replacing a player of Upamecano’s caliber mid-season or even in summer presents significant challenges.

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