Bayern Munich have been the most consistent team in the European top five leagues this season as they are heading into the October international break with 10 straight wins across competitions.
Vincent Kompany is receiving a lot of credit for his aggressive attacking gameplay and also his ability to bring out the best in some players.
However, amidst all the positivity, the only tension among the fans is with the contract extensions of certain players who have been crucial to Kompany's system this season.
The player that stands out in this list has to be defensive stalwart Dayot Upamecano, who is all set to be a free agent next summer and several top European clubs including Real Madrid and Liverpool are monitoring his situation.
As per reports, the Frenchman is in talks with the Bavarians, but his high salary demands remains a point of difference between the two parties.
Meanwhile, former Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus believes that Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck could be the ideal Upamecano replacement.
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"If Upamecano does leave Bayern in the summer, there will be a quality and quantity problem in that position. Then FC Bayern should go for Nico Schlotterbeck. He's currently hesitating about extending his contract with Dortmund beyond 2027, and they would have to sell him in the summer if they want to get a decent fee," Matthaus wrote on his Sky Sports Germany column.
For now, Bayern hierarchy are looking to cut down on spendings, and they would like to extend Upamecano's contract, who is happy in Munich but would like to be rewarded with an increased salary deal for his recent performances.
Why is Matthaus nominating Schlotterbeck for Bayern Munich?
Schlotterbeck has been on the radar of several top European clubs which includes Barcelona as they are looking at the Germany international as someone who can fill the void left by Inigo Martinez.
The 25-year-old has suffered some brutal injuries last season which hindered his growth but overall, he is extremely composed and has the quality and technical ability to lead the German backline.
Apart from his game reading skills, he also has a great elite passing range and could be a great option for Bayern Munich if they ever intend to pursue him next summer.
Matthaus also highlights such qualities and believes that him playing with Jonathan Tah in the national team setup could benefit Bayern Munich if they decide to sign the defender.
"Schlotterbeck definitely has the quality for Bayern, and a German international is always interesting for them. I think he'll play an important role alongside Jonathan Tah in the national team. Schlotterbeck, as a left-footed centre-back, would also fit in well with Tah, and Bayern's build-up play would be even better than it already is.
"Even if Upamecano stays, Schlotterbeck is certainly worth considering, as it's unclear what will happen with Kim Min-jae. However, I think they'll try the same approach as they recently did with Nick Woltemade - namely, offer a fee that's not quite in line with the market and see if Dortmund will sell. The risk, of course, is that an English club will come and offer significantly more, convincing both the player and Dortmund to make a move."
The 25-year-old defender is contracted to Dortmund until 2027 and if doesn't intend to sign a new contract any time soon, they would be forced to sell him next summer.
Therefore, any club who are interested in Schlotterbeck could secure him at a cut-price next summer.
It will be interesting to see if Bayern Munich will show interest in him as they have been also linked with Marc Guehi, who is available for free transfer in 2026.
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