Strong interest: Bayern have BVB star Schlotterbeck firmly in their sights | OneFootball

Will FC Bayern sign a new top defender this summer? Apparently, the Munich club has a strong interest in BVB star Nico Schlotterbeck.

Lothar Matthäus has advised FC Bayern to make a concerted effort to acquire Nico Schlotterbeck this coming summer. In his Sky column, the record national player made a clear recommendation for the Borussia Dortmund center-back, especially considering the uncertain future of Dayot Upamecano.

"Bayern should make an effort to sign Nico Schlotterbeck," wrote Matthäus. "He is a German national player, knows the Bundesliga, is well-trained, and has international caliber. For me, it would be absolutely logical if Upamecano leaves or if they cannot agree on an extension."

Matthäus sees Schlotterbeck as the ideal solution to potential gaps in the defensive lineup: "He has a strong left side, is very clean in build-up play, and brings exactly the profile Bayern needs in this position. Additionally, he has shown that he can handle pressure and big games."

Background: Upamecano's contract with FC Bayern runs until 2026, but an extension has not yet been achieved. Sports director Max Eberl recently emphasized: "It's no big secret that we have a strong desire to extend with Upa." However, according to media reports, negotiations are stalling due to financial demands. A departure in the summer is therefore not ruled out.

Sky: Bayern is seriously considering Schlotterbeck

It is considered certain that Bayern is already exploring options for this scenario. As Sky reports, Nico Schlotterbeck is a concrete transfer candidate for the Isar club. The Munich team was already interested in him during his move from Freiburg to Dortmund in 2022. According to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, contact has never been broken since then. The interest is said to be "strong," according to the transfer insider. Should Schlotterbeck hit the transfer market in the summer of 2026, "Bayern will be there," Plettenberg emphasized.

Whether this happens largely depends on whether the DFB star extends his contract with BVB. According to Sky information, the center-back has a new contract ready to sign, extending until 2030. This would make him one of the top earners at Borussia, with an annual salary in the range of 10 million euros.

Even though Schlotterbeck feels very comfortable in Dortmund, he has not yet made a final decision. The reason: the German national player wants to compete for titles – a factor he critically evaluates at BVB. If Bayern gets serious, a transfer could be a conceivable scenario despite the long contract term. A sale in the summer of 2026 would be the last opportunity for Dortmund to generate an attractive transfer fee, as his contract expires in 2027. Schlotterbeck's current market value is estimated at 40 million euros.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.