Liverpool and Real Madrid are reportedly set to benefit as Dayot Upamecano seeks a summer exit from Bayern Munich.
Dayot Upamecano’s contract stand-off at Bayern Munich has begun to feel like a familiar waiting game, with two of Europe’s biggest clubs circling as the French defender weighs up his future. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Bayern have put a lucrative long-term offer on the table, running until 2030 or 2031 and worth around €20 million gross per year.
However, Upamecano has yet to commit, despite weeks of talks. With a release clause included from the summer of 2027 and Bayern Munich unwilling to improve their proposal, the 27-year-old appears content to wait, with Liverpool and Real Madrid both firmly on his radar.
Liverpool’s interest comes at a delicate moment for the club. The Reds missed out on Marc Guehi last summer after identifying him as a key defensive target, and they now face the very real possibility of losing Ibrahima Konate as a free agent if contract talks do not progress. In that context, Upamecano represents an ideal solution.
Signing a proven, Champions League-tested centre-back without paying a transfer fee would allow Liverpool to invest heavily elsewhere in the squad, whether that be reinforcing midfield depth, planning for Mohamed Salah’s eventual succession, or adding flexibility across the back line under Arne Slot’s evolving project.
Real Madrid, however, are equally well positioned and arguably just as attractive for a player of Upamecano’s profile. With Antonio Rudiger in his thirties and David Alaba still battling fitness concerns, Los Blancos are quietly planning their next defensive cycle.
The club’s transfer strategy in recent years has increasingly revolved around elite players arriving either on free transfers or at reduced cost, and Upamecano fits that model perfectly. A move to the Santiago Bernabeu would offer the Frenchman the chance to compete for the biggest trophies every season while stepping into a defence that is being reshaped for the next generation.
From Bayern’s perspective, the situation is becoming uncomfortable. They have made their stance clear and do not want negotiations to drag on indefinitely, but the leverage currently lies with the player. For Upamecano, patience could be rewarded with the pick of two European giants, one offering a central role in a Premier League rebuild, the other a place at the heart of Real Madrid’s long-term vision.
Whichever path he chooses, his decision is likely to have significant ripple effects across the market, and both Liverpool and Real Madrid will be watching closely, ready to move when the moment finally arrives.