Upamecano stays: Top club to target Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck? | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund is coming under increasing pressure in the race for Nico Schlotterbeck. The contract extension of Dayot Upamecano at FC Bayern could become the decisive factor.

The contract extension of Dayot Upamecano at FC Bayern is more than just a personnel decision in Munich—it has direct consequences for Borussia Dortmund and the future of Nico Schlotterbeck. As reported by Bild, the balance of power on the transfer market is shifting noticeably with the French international staying at Bayern.

Originally, Upamecano was considered the top choice for several top clubs’ central defense, especially at Real Madrid. But now that Bayern’s defensive leader appears to be staying long-term, the focus of the Spanish giants is shifting to other candidates—and Schlotterbeck is increasingly coming into the spotlight. According to Bild, Real is intensifying its efforts to sign the Dortmund defender.

In Madrid, the search for a new defensive leader has long been underway. Since a move for Ibrahima Konaté is reportedly off the table, Schlotterbeck remains one of the few realistic top candidates. The BVB defender is under contract until 2027, but that’s exactly what makes the situation tricky for Dortmund: If the club waits too long, there’s a risk of losing him on a free transfer in two years—a scenario that is considered the “worst-case scenario” internally.

BVB continues to fight for Schlotterbeck

That’s why things could get serious as early as this coming summer. Dortmund is reportedly demanding a high transfer fee of 50 to 70 million euros in the event of a move. At the same time, BVB faces the difficult decision of whether to sell Schlotterbeck or continue hoping he will stay.

Despite Upamecano’s extension, Bayern are not entirely out of the running. In Munich, the future of Minjae Kim is still being discussed. Should there be a shake-up, Schlotterbeck could become a topic again—either as early as this summer or, looking ahead, for a free transfer in 2027. For BVB, the latter would be a severe setback both sportingly and financially.

Dortmund is determined to prevent this scenario. According to Bild, sporting director Sebastian Kehl and CEO Lars Ricken have once again sought talks with Schlotterbeck to present him with a clear perspective—including the role of possible future captain. For now, however, the national player is keeping his cards close to his chest and leaving his future open.

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