Real Madrid linked with Dayot Upamecano amid Bayern Munich uncertainty

Real Madrid are reportedly considering a move for the France international Dayot Upmecano on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

The 26-year-old defender was signed from RB Leipzig four years ago, with the Bavarian club meeting his reported £38m buy-out clause in the face of interest from Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Upamecano has since gone on to win three Bundesliga titles in Munich, but has yet to reach agreement over a mooted extension to his contract, which expires next summer.

Alternative targets

It is no secret that Madrid are in the market for a new centre-back, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, who will be free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club come January, understood to be the La Liga club’s principal target. 

Xabi Alonso’s side have also been linked with a move for the Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, whose proposed switch to Liverpool fell through on the final day of the summer transfer window.

The common denominator in all three cases is Madrid’s desire to secure a defender of proven quality without paying a transfer fee, an approach that has become the cornerstone of the club’s transfer strategy. 

Bayern’s determination to avoid that scenario, reinforced by Leroy Sané’s recent departure to Galatasaray on a free transfer, has prompted Bayern sporting directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund to resume negotiations with Upamecano’s advisers after previous talks broke down over his financial demands, according to the German tabloid Bild. 

Why Vincent Kompany could hold the key to Dayot Upamecano’s future

The France centre-back has flourished since Vincent Kompany took up the reins at the Allianz Arena last summer. He formed a solid partnership with South Korea international Kim Min-jae last term and has lined up alongside new signing Jonathan Tah this season.

Upamecano has hailed Kompany’s contribution in training, describing how the former Manchester City defender has helped him to improve his positional play and leadership skills.    

‘I like the way he plays his football’

“When we’re out on the pitch, he will often correct my positioning and encourage me to be more vocal as I am a leader in the team,” Upamecano said last season. “I have learned a lot from him as a coach. I used to watch him at Man City when I was growing up, and I saw how he used to play himself.

“I like his style as a coach. He encourages me to stay close to the attacker, to seek out one-versus-one situations, and to press aggressively.

“I like the way he plays his football.”

Bayern will now hope that Upamecano’s evident relish for Kompany’s methods is enough to keep him at the Allianz Arena beyond next year.