Deadline for Upamecano? Bayern boss announces „prompt decision“ | OneFootball

The future of Dayot Upamecano at FC Bayern remains one of the key personnel issues at Säbener Straße. The French centre-back has had a contract ready for renewal for months, but a signature is still a long way off. Now reports of an alleged deadline are creating new momentum – and calling sports director Christoph Freund onto the scene

FC Bayern had already made Dayot Upamecano a concrete offer to extend his contract last year. The 27-year-old’s contract still runs until the summer of 2026, but those responsible want planning certainty early on. So far, this has not been given. Upamecano has not yet signed the contract and his sporting future remains open

On Thursday evening, BILD added further fuel to the fire with reports that the record champions have given the defender a deadline to make a decision, which expires this coming Sunday. Bayern’s aim is to have clarity as soon as possible as to whether Upamecano can be kept for the long term or whether they will have to prepare for his departure. If no agreement is reached, there is a risk of him leaving on a free transfer in the summer – a scenario that Munich want to avoid at all costs

Behind the scenes, it is apparently not just about the duration of the contract. Upamecano is said to be demanding a significant salary increase as well as a high hand money and an exit clause – points that are complicating the talks and have so far prevented an agreement

Freund reacts evasively, but confirms proximity to time

photo: IMAGO

When asked about the rumoured deadline, sporting director Christoph Freund was deliberately cautious on Friday. „We have never given any status updates. We have always said that we are in good talks. There is no new status,“ explained the Austrian. He did not want to disclose any details about the ongoing negotiations. „We will not disclose any details about the current state of the negotiations,“ Freund continued

However, his statement was not entirely without signal. Freund at least confirmed that a decision is unlikely to be too long in coming. „There will be a decision in the near future, that will be the case. But I won’t talk about any deadlines now,“ he clarified. The Bayern boss did not explicitly deny the specific deadline, but avoided confirming it publicly

Set in sporting terms, unresolved contractually

Regardless of the contract talks, Upamecano is undisputed in sporting terms. The central defender has been one of the absolute fixtures in Vincent Kompany’s team this season. The Frenchman has appeared in 25 competitive matches so far and, together with Jonathan Tah, forms the German record champions‘ set defensive center

This is why the pending decision is so important for Bayern. Upamecano is in his prime, has international experience and embodies exactly the profile Kompany is looking for in his defence. Staying for the long term would guarantee stability, while leaving would force a strategic change

The situation remains open at the moment, with Bayern signalling patience, but also a desire for clarity in the near future. Whether there is actually an internal deadline or not, it is clear that the coming days will be decisive.