Max Eberl has now said it himself – confirming the speculation of recent weeks. FC Bayern were indeed interested in Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennes, but in the end the record champions deliberately decided against a multi-million transfer and opted for an internal solution
„Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennes, for example, would have been a great player for us,“ Eberl explained surprisingly openly in an interview with SPORT1. A remarkable statement, as no one in charge had previously made such a clear public commitment to the French centre-back. The 19-year-old’s move to Liverpool FC in the summer of 2026 changed Munich’s strategic direction decisively
The sum that Liverpool put on the table for Jacquet was apparently a decisive factor from Bayern’s point of view: „When we see that he is going to Liverpool for a rumored €70 million at the age of 19, we have to consider what is best for Bayern Munich,“ Eberl continued
According to consistent media reports, there had been concrete talks behind the scenes with the player’s side. So the interest was by no means loose or superficial. On the contrary, Munich were seriously examining whether Jacquet could take on a leading role in the center of defence in the future
However, the economic conditions forced Bayern to rethink their approach and, at a time when the club is paying more attention to salary structure, sustainability and strategic squad planning, a 70-million investment for a 19-year-old seemed like a risky undertaking
Upamecano as an „internal transfer“
Bayern’s answer followed promptly – and it came from within the squad. „Our answer was to approach the extension with Dayot,“ Eberl clarified. Instead of investing a high transfer fee, they tied down an established top performer for the long term
Upamecano knows the environment, is in his prime and has developed into a defensive leader under Vincent Kompany. „He knows the club, is in his prime and is one of the best central defenders in the world. From a sporting and financial point of view, it is therefore the right decision,“ emphasized Eberl
The extension should therefore be seen as an „internal transfer“ – a term that symbolizes the new way of thinking at Säbener Straße. Securing quality without drifting into extreme transfer spheres
With Jonathan Tah, Minjae Kim and Upamecano, the center of defence is currently strong. Jacquet would have been an investment in the future – but Bayern opted for stability in the here and now
Eberl’s statements clearly show that the record champions are still in the mix for Europe’s top talents. But in the end, it’s not just the sporting potential that counts, but the overall package. And in Jacquet’s case, that was clearly one size too big.