Real Madrid Launch Secret Mission to Land Bundesliga Sensation

Although Real Madrid have been strongly connected with a potential acquisition of Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté for the upcoming summer, another French center-back has emerged as a possible target in what appears to be Florentino Perez's favored approach of attracting talent.

Real Madrid are allegedly pursuing Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano on a free transfer next summer should the French defender fail to agree to a contract extension. This wouldn't mark the first occasion Los Blancos have employed this strategy in recent years—Trent Alexander-Arnold joined after his Liverpool deal expired this summer. Looking back further this decade, both David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger were acquired as free agents following their departures from Bayern and Chelsea respectively.

Bayern are reportedly concentrating on renewing the Frenchman's contract, however negotiations have stalled for over half a year and Real Madrid are considering a potential move, according to SPORT BILD.

Upamecano becomes a free agent at the conclusion of 2026, though it remains unclear whether Real Madrid intends to pursue multiple defenders next summer. Alaba's contract also expires in 2026, indicating the desire to attract another elite defender to strengthen the backline.

During the recent summer window, the Spanish powerhouse invested significantly in Dean Huijsen, who has featured in both La Liga matches thus far. Éder Militão is working to reclaim his starting position following his injury recovery while Rüdiger continues as a crucial defensive presence.

Upamecano might serve as an alternative option should Konaté extend his stay with Liverpool, though the opposite scenario could equally apply. Alonso earned recognition at Bayer Leverkusen for his three-at-the-back formation, but arguably lacks the current squad depth to implement it effectively across multiple positions. Consequently, he's utilized a 4-2-3-1 setup in La Liga despite testing different approaches during the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

Real Madrid have additionally been associated with Arsenal's William Saliba in hopes of securing the defender on a free transfer in 2027. The Gunners remain determined to retain him. Irrespective of which player ultimately joins, it's evident Madrid are committed to restructuring their defensive core after securing Álvaro Carreras and Alexander-Arnold as future solutions at fullback positions.