Man Utd battle PSG and Real Madrid to sign FREE AGENT

Robin Bairner

13 Sept 2025 12:30 BST
3 min read

Manchester United’s summer transfer plans were hampered by a lack of funds, and the Old Trafford side are now seeking the possibility of signing a free agent to compensate, according to a report.

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Ruben Amorim’s side spent the vast majority of their transfer budget overhauling the attack of the 13-time Premier League champions, making a late move to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens as the manager lost faith in Andre Onana.

But there were numerous areas of the squad where weaknesses were not addressed, such as in the midfield and the heart of the defence.

Man Utd are braced to go head-to-head with Champions League winners PSG and Real Madrid in a battle to sign a free agent who would help plug a hole at centre-back.

Dayot Upamecano is in the sights of Amorim’s side, according to Fichajes. The Bayern Munich and France defender is out of contract in 2026 and will, therefore, be able to hold discussions over his future from 1 January. Man Utd plan on doing this in a bid to land him for nothing.

Current ETV

Dayot Upamecano

D (C)

Bayern

Dayot Upamecano

D (C)

Bayern

ETV Range

€30.4M - €37.2M

Upamecano sticking point

While Upamecano ticks two key boxes for Amorim’s system in that he is both quick and has impressive stamina, making him able to cover vast amounts of ground, there is a catch. His wages.

The 26-year-old has a contract worth a reported €16 million per year at Bayern and “is demanding a significant increase in his new deal”.

FCB are unwilling to break their salary structure to give him this, and Manchester United would have to do the same if they were to add him to Amorim’s ranks. Similarly, PSG are unlikely to consider such a lavish demand.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have reportedly agreed to sign Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer next summer, putting a huge question mark over just where Upamecano may end up.

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