The contract talks between FC Bayern and Dayot Upamecano are nearing completion. Both sides have been working on a solution for weeks. Now there is a clear signal from the club management.
At the press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match against TSG Hoffenheim, sporting director Max Eberl spoke about the current status of the negotiations. When asked whether the extension was already fixed, he said: „We are close. We are on a very, very good path and will be delighted when we can finally announce it.“ An official announcement is still pending, but the statements suggest that an agreement will be reached soon.
It was recently reported that the talks are on the home straight and that the extension is down to the final details. After months of contract wrangling, an agreement in principle is now said to have been reached between the club and the player.
Upamecano gets mega contract
Upamecano is set to become one of the top earners in the squad with the new contract and will receive an annual salary of around 20 million euros. A major sticking point in the negotiations was the hand money. While the player’s side originally pushed for a one-off payment of a higher amount, Bayern wanted to spread the sum over the term of the contract. In the end, both sides are said to have agreed on a reduced hand money, which will be paid out in several instalments.
An exit clause also played a role in the talks, according to which a fixed transfer fee of around €65 million would be part of the new contract, but would only take effect at a later date. This structure was important for Bayern in order to minimize financial risks and still maintain planning security.
Despite an unusual course of events in the meantime – including an increased pressure phase on the part of the club – it is considered extremely unlikely that the deal will fall through. The sporting importance of the 27-year-old is too clear and the talks are too far advanced.