Real Madrid reach verbal agreement to sign 27-year-old superstar defender: Reports

Real Madrid have reportedly struck up a verbal agreement with Dayot Upamecano regarding his personal terms. The 27-year-old Bayern Munich centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season.

Since arriving from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021, Upamecano has been one of the key components of the Bayern defence, also contributing six goals and 10 assists in 172 games across competitions. That includes a goal in 20 outings across competitions this season, with the lone strike coming in the Bundesliga, where Vincent Kompany's side are eight points clear at the top.

There has been an impasse in contract renewal discussions between Upamecano and Bayern. However, the player's demands for an annual salary of €16 million, including bonuses and specific release clauses, has stalled talks (as per Kicker via GOAL), potentially making him one of the club's top earners, with Bayern reluctant to break their wage structure.

Valued at €60 million (as per GOAL), Upamecano could join Los Blancos, who are ready to accept the player's financial demands, in the summer, as per Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna via Madrid Zone.

Having scored in the 6-2 Bundesliga home win over Freiburg last month, Upamecano is expected to feature for the Bavarians in the Bundesliga home game against Mainz on Sunday (December 14).

How Real Madrid have fared this season

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid have had a decent season under new boss Xabi Alonso - whose first assignment saw him take the club to the semi-finals of the new-look 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in the summer.

Los Blancos, though, have hit a lean patch recently, with two wins in their last eight games across competitions. Following a 2-0 La Liga home defeat to Celta Vigo last weekend, finishing with 10 men, Alonso's men stumbled to a 2-1 home reverse against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, dropping them to seventh in the standings after six games.

Next up, Madrid travel to Alaves in the league on Sunday (December 14) as they look to arrest their losing skid. Los Blancos are second in the domestic points table, seven points behind leaders Barcelona (43), who have played a game more.

Edited by Bhargav