Liverpool are now understood to be taking a long, hard look at Dayot Upamecano.
This comes amid their own ongoing contract troubles with another first-choice French centre-back in Ibrahima Konate.
The former RB Leipzig star, also reportedly courted by Spanish giants Real Madrid, is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2026.
However, that may create more problems for Bayern Munich than they had initially anticipated.
Liverpool are interested in Dayot Upamecano
FC Bayern, it should be emphasised, have not been sitting on their laurels amid the constant transfer speculation.
There have been active attempts to persuade Upamecano that his future is best served by staying put in Munich.
“It is true that Liverpool are looking at Dayot Upamecano. Bayern have been trying to give Upamecano a new contract for months. I think it’s coming up to a year of talks!” Christian Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.
“And the time is running out, because next summer he’s a free agent, and it makes him so interesting for many, many clubs.
“Liverpool, of course, have the same situation with Ibrahima Konate – he’s also going to be a free agent next summer. And yes, if Liverpool can get a player like Dayot Upamecano for free, that’s pretty good business.
“That said, every top club in the world is looking at him; I heard that Real Madrid is very, very interested in him. Also, the player is understood to be on the list at Manchester United and PSG.
However, the clock is quickly ticking down. As of January 2026, the 26-year-old will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club.
With both Liverpool and Real Madrid in the mix – arguably Europe’s most attractive propositions outside of Bayern Munich – this is surely complicating matters.
Transfer domino effect could see Bayern or Liverpool miss out
Amongst all this, it’s worth noting that Real Madrid will more than likely be in the market for two new defensive additions next summer.
David Alaba is likely to be released next year, whilst there are already concerns about Antonio Rudiger’s fitness.
“David Alaba, a former Bayern player, was a free agent when he went to Real Madrid from Bayern. And Toni Rüdiger, he was also a free agent,” Falk went on to add.
“Bayern Munich were interested before he moved from Chelsea to Real. Now both are set to become free agents next summer. I don’t think they’ll get new contracts in Madrid.
“And that’s why Real Madrid have also got an eye on Dayot Upamecano. With Liverpool, we now have another big side ready to take part in the poker.
“That makes it very hard for Bayern Munich, as I heard that the Bundesliga champions don’t want to pay him the salary he’s looking for. That’s why things have gone a little bit quiet about his contract talks, which could be really dangerous for Bayern, as he’s very important for the defence.”
With that in mind, it’s entirely possible to envisage a scenario where both Liverpool and Bayern Munich lose their French internationals to the allure of Real Madrid.
Or, it’s alternatively feasible that the Merseysiders secure Dayot Upamecano’s signature on a pre-contract agreement to react to Ibrahima Konate seeking out sunnier shores.
Don’t forget, of course, that Ibrahima Konate’s prior experience in the Bundesliga alternatively makes him a reasonable target for FC Bayern.
Perhaps the most likely solution is the one that leaves Liverpool short-changed and both Bayern and Madrid’s stores replenished (or at least partly so in the case of the latter).
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Deeper into FC Bayern → Bayern fear multiple Premier League transfer threats
