The poker game surrounding Dayot Upamecano continues to take new twists and turns – and now a remarkable piece of information has come to light: FC Bayern had apparently already almost reached an agreement with its defensive boss.
As reported by kicker, Bayern and the Frenchman had already agreed in principle to continue working together before the contract extensions of Joshua Kimmich, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala.
At the time, it was reportedly only a matter of the final details, but the deal fell through before it could be signed. Since then, the financial situation has changed – and with it the conditions under which Upamecano would like to extend.
The centre-back is aware of his increased market value. Paris Saint-Germain are apparently preparing an offer and Real Madrid are also said to be interested. Particularly tricky: Upamecano’s advisor Moussa Sissoko has close ties to PSG and represents Ousmane Dembélé, among others. This increases the pressure on the Bayern bosses.
Although Munich remain optimistic about keeping their defensive boss for the long term, the financial package is now a different one. The background to this is that Bayern granted exceptionally high salaries and hand money for the recent contract extensions of Davies, Musiala and Kimmich – a benchmark that Upamecano’s camp is also using as a guide.
Upamecano extension could be expensive for FC Bayern
According to the kicker report, the record champions will have to „reach into the upper financial shelf“ to keep the Frenchman. The club is prepared in principle to significantly increase the 27-year-old’s salary, but does not want to pay sums that could jeopardise the internal structure. Upamecano currently earns around €16 million gross including bonuses.
Sporting director Max Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund are therefore faced with a balancing act: on the one hand, they want to keep the defense stable in the long term, while on the other, there is the threat of a financially strong competitor in PSG, who could lure the central defender with a generous handout.
Upamecano has developed into a top performer under coach Vincent Kompany and is one of the most consistent defenders in Europe, which is why his contract extension remains a top priority – even if talks have become more difficult.
Conclusion: An agreement was apparently within reach at one point, but now the balance of power has shifted – and Bayern will have to dig deeper into their pockets to avoid losing their defensive boss to PSG or Real.