Not Konaté nor Saliba: 'Bild' announces that Madrid wants Upamecano for free

Real Madrid keeps working on expanding its squad wherever it is strictly necessary. After landing on the home bench at Santiago Bernabéu, the coaching staff led by Xabi Alonso has made it clear that two signings are needed to complete the current first team.

The signing of a center-back and a creative, defensively-minded midfielder are operations that are impossible to avoid during the upcoming transfer windows. Aside from the ongoing discussion about adding another player to the merengue midfield, the main debate that is now being addressed is in the defense.

This is especially true because of the emergence of a free agent signing that would fit into the roadmap set by Real Madrid's top executives. The name that is constantly being mentioned in the club's orbit to strengthen the backline in the summer of 2026 is Ibrahima Konaté. After all, Liverpool's "5" seems ready to leave Anfield Road after his contract expires.

The addition of the red defender to Santiago Bernabéu locker room might not be the only free agent signing considered by the executives led by Florentino Pérez. The solution to the defensive shortage, in addition to Ibrahima Konaté himself, would come in the form of DayotUpamecano.

Another one for the list

The Bayern Munich footballer has lost his status as an undisputed starter in Vincent Kompany's plans. The offices at Säbener Straße are also not completely sure about his continuity with the team, so renewal seems like a pipe dream. Real Madrid would have noticed this situation and would be one of his most prominent offers.

This is highlighted by one of the most prominent media outlets in Germany. The information currently handled by BILD places the white club's sporting management as the main party interested in signing the French footballer, always as a free agent. This move is not a coincidence, even though it may appear in the final stretch of the summer transfer window of 2025.

After all, the doubts about the continuity of Antonio Rüdiger beyond this season add to the non-renewal of David Alaba. Real Madrid could be left without two center-backs in the same transfer window, an adverse situation against which Xabi Alonso has protested in advance... for which the white club's top executives would already have a plan prepared.

Only in this way can one understand the sudden interest that the Madrid leadership would have shown in Dayot Upamecano, a Bayern Munich footballer whose continuity with the Bavarian club is at risk. The plan to shore up the defense in the 26/27 season is beginning to take shape with two elite players as possible reinforcements.