The clock is ticking on Dayot Upamecano’s future at Bayern Munich, with the club believed to have set a mid February ultimatum for the French defender to accept their final contract offer or risk a damaging summer exit on a free transfer.
Negotiations between the club and Upamecano’s camp have dragged on for months, stalled over wage demands, contract length, and crucially, the inclusion of a release clause. Bayern’s latest proposal is understood to be a four year deal featuring a €65 million escape clause, and sources indicate the Bavarians will not improve their terms further. It’s now a straight ‘take it or leave it’ decision for the 25 year old.
Amid the tense standoff, defensive partner Jonathan Tah made an emotional public plea for Upamecano to stay. Speaking ahead of Bayern’s Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven, Tah said: “Dayot is someone I like a lot, both on and off the pitch. The way he welcomed me in the team was special. Of course I hope he stays and extends. I’m telling him that 100 times a day. He feels comfortable and knows what he has here.”
The centre back union of Upamecano and Tah has become the bedrock of Vincent Kompany’s defence this season, offering a blend of pace, power, and composure that has largely worked. Losing one half of that pairing for nothing would be a brutal blow, reviving painful memories of high profile free departures like David Alaba and more recently, the inability to keep hold of talents like Lucas Hernández.
Bayern’s recent history with centre backs is a messy carousel of big money signings and early exits: Matthijs de Ligt, Benjamin Pavard, and Eric Dier have all come and gone with varying success. Allowing another key defender to leave, especially without a fee, would represent a major failure in squad planning.
The pressure is now squarely on Upamecano. Does he commit to being a cornerstone of Bayern’s future, or does he eye a new challenge elsewhere? For Tah, Kompany, and the Bayern hierarchy, the hope is that their on field chemistry and the club’s stature will convince him to sign. If not, the search for a replacement begins in earnest and the defensive solidity they’ve built this season could be undone in an instant.
