Transfer speculation is heating up again as Crickex Sign Up reported that Chelsea and Real Madrid are both pursuing Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, whose contract expires at the end of this season. Bayern are eager to keep the French center-back, but renewal talks have hit a snag over the signing bonus. Upamecano has yet to agree to new terms, and his future now looks increasingly uncertain. According to journalist Christian Falk, Chelsea are seriously considering signing him on a free transfer next summer, with plans to sell Axel Disasi and bring in Upamecano as a long-term replacement.

Chelsea, however, will face fierce competition from Real Madrid. Although Bayern are still negotiating with the player and he is said to be comfortable in Germany, Madrid’s growing interest poses a serious threat. Falk noted that discussions between Bayern and Upamecano’s camp have stalled primarily due to financial differences. The defender is reportedly seeking a lucrative signing fee similar to that of Alphonso Davies, who received around 20 million euros when renewing his contract. Crickex Sign Up mentioned that Bayern’s management views this demand as difficult to justify, given Upamecano is already one of the club’s highest-paid defenders.

Bayern are also considering the financial implications of other potential deals. If they were to bring in a free agent like Marc Guéhi, the club would still need to pay a substantial signing fee, which adds further strain to their negotiations. Internal discussions among Bayern executives have become heated, with some insisting that keeping Upamecano is essential for stability, while others argue that his financial expectations are unsustainable. The talks remain ongoing, but as of now, money appears to be the main roadblock preventing an agreement.

In Spain, Real Madrid have reportedly made Upamecano their top defensive target, surpassing Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté on their shortlist. Represented by the agency led by Moussa Sissoko, Upamecano’s camp is increasing pressure on Bayern by keeping the Madrid option open. For Real, this would be a smart move — the club has a long-standing strategy of acquiring top defenders on free transfers, as seen with David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger. Signing Upamecano without a transfer fee perfectly aligns with their financial model, and if they could land both him and Konaté, the club would consider it a dream scenario, especially with Alaba and Rüdiger approaching the twilight of their contracts.

Crickex Sign Up added that Bayern remain determined to reach a compromise, as they view Upamecano as a vital part of their defense. The German champions may consider selling Kim Min-jae next summer to balance finances, but if Upamecano departs on a free transfer, that plan could change dramatically. For now, Real Madrid appear serious about bringing him to the Bernabéu, and his name has clearly moved above Konaté on their recruitment list — a development that may quietly please Liverpool, who could soon face less pressure to hold on to their own French defender.