Upamecano's Transfer Tug-of-War: Bayern's Salary Cap, Real Madrid, and Liverpool Watch Closely
12 October 2025
Upamecano's contract saga: Bayern's wage-cap clash
A German newspaper on Sunday outlined Dayot Upamecano's position as Bayern Munich's renewal talks heat up ahead of the summer window.
The 26-year-old French defender's future at Bayern remains uncertain as his deal expires at the season's end and no renewal agreement has yet been reached.
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's coach, aims to bolster the defence amid underperformance and injury issues that have unsettled the backline.
According to Sky Germany, Upamecano and his agent are sticking to their demands in negotiations over a new contract.
The report stresses that neither side is willing to concede, leaving Bayern to decide whether to accept terms that would clash with its current wage policy.
Beyond a sizable salary increase, Upamecano reportedly seeks a renewal bonus of 17 million euros, a figure that clashes with Bayern's salary cap and financial framework.
Although the club's sporting director Max Eberl sees the centre-back's continuity as a top priority, there are voices inside Bayern urging a firm stance even if it means losing the player for nothing next season.
Liverpool and Real Madrid eye a free transfer
Separately, AS notes Real Madrid consider Upamecano a summer target.
Madrid has recently pursued big-name players whose contracts are winding down in hopes of signing them on a free, with examples cited as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are racing to reinforce their defence for summer 2026 with a potential free-transfer target in mind.
Bild reports Liverpool are keen to sign Upamecano on a free to fill the likely gap left by Ibrahima Konaté, whose deal runs to 2026 and who is linked with Madrid.
Liverpool's defensive options include Virgil van Dijk, Konaté, Joe Gomez, and the new arrival Giovanni Leoni, who had a long injury lay-off in his debut.
Bayern's stance and official remarks
Real Madrid could stand to benefit most if Bayern fail to reach an agreement, according to reports.
Max Eberl joked about renewal talks, saying: The negotiations are ongoing, in French (very good). I do not speak French beyond that, so we haven't made progress yet (laughs).
He added: It's no secret that we want to renew with Upamecano. For other players with expiring contracts, there are a few who view themselves and the club differently, but we always consider it. If the time is right, we will start discussions calmly behind closed doors.
Despite the playful tone, Eberl's remarks hint at progress in talks with Upamecano, who remains a key pillar of Bayern's defense.
In the wider narrative, Real Madrid's interest in one of the two French players on a free transfer could shape a pivotal summer for European football’s powerhouses.
