The contract talks between FC Bayern and Dayot Upamecano are entering a decisive phase. While there had previously been talk of an open future without acute time pressure, it is now clear that the deadline for the French central defender is approaching much faster than publicly known
Dayot Upamecano’s contract expires at the end of the season. The sporting importance of the 27-year-old for FC Bayern is undisputed, and Munich’s interest in securing the defender’s long-term services is correspondingly high. Nevertheless, the decision has been dragging on. As BILD recently revealed, Bayern have set a clear deadline for their defender. What was not previously known, however, is that this deadline ends on Sunday, 1 February
BILD head of soccer Christian Falk made it clear in the Bayern Insider podcast just how serious the situation has become. „We’ve heard that the deadline is on 1 February. That means it’s getting really tight now. Upamecano has to make a decision. And there are a few things that just haven’t really been clarified yet, or that he has to accept. How does it work with the hand money, then the exit clause, the offer is apparently 5 years. So: Upamecano doesn’t have much time now, the clock is ticking.“
These statements make it clear that FC Bayern is not willing to delay the decision indefinitely. The record champions need planning security – above all because a transfer-free departure in the summer would be a serious loss both in sporting and economic terms
Big offer – but unanswered questions
According to BILD, Bayern have presented Upamecano with an extremely attractive overall package. The Frenchman could earn up to 20 million euros per year in the future. There would also be a hand money of around 20 million euros. In addition, the contract would run for five years and contain an exit clause for 2027, which would be around 65 million euros
Despite these framework conditions, Upamecano has so far been hesitant. Apparently, it is not only financial aspects, but also details such as the exact structure of the release clause and the long-term perspective that have not yet been finally clarified. From Bayern’s point of view, however, patience is limited. The sporting management knows that if Upamecano does not accept the offer, Munich would have to examine alternatives promptly in order not to go into the summer unprepared
BILD reporter Tobias Altschäffl also underlines the urgency of the situation in the podcast: „Bayern don’t have forever to find a replacement. Now he has to decide, he knows what he has in Bayern, what he has in Kompany. That is also the team’s great hope that Upa says he doesn’t need another million or two now, but that he says things are going so well in the team.“
These words reflect the internal hope at Säbener Straße. Under Vincent Kompany, the defence has stabilized and Upamecano is a mainstay. In sporting terms, there is a lot to be said for him staying, especially as the Frenchman consistently plays at a high level under the Belgian and enjoys great confidence
The coming days will therefore point the way forward. Upamecano must decide by Sunday whether he accepts the current offer. If he does not, there is the threat of a scenario that FC Bayern would like to avoid at all costs: a hanging game until the summer – or the premature separation of one of the most important defenders in the squad.