Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé is eyeing Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano

Coming to a you a day early because of the wonky timing of the international break…

The most prevalent off-the-field story for Bayern Munich these days revolves around the ongoing contract talks between the club and star center-back Dayot Upamecano.

Doubt started to seep into the fanbase when Upamecano shutdown talks over the summer as the two sides still had too many differences in how this should play out. However, things start to improve when reports broke that the two parties agreed upon a number for Upamecano’s salary.

Not everything was necessarily headed in the right direction, though. A signing bonus and the need for a release clause have become roadblocks between the two sides and now other clubs see an opening. Liverpool, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain…and Real Madrid are all reportedly interested in the Frenchman.

Now, one of Upamecano’s international teammates could be laying the groundwork for a move, like a faithful wingman for his club.

“He’s brimming with confidence; he’s in the discussion to be the best defender in the world this season. He’s one of those dominant defenders who are capable of pressing high. It’s important to have players like that. He’s able to run with the attackers, to win duels. He’s a tactical asset. He’s at a big club, Bayern Munich; there aren’t many better clubs, but there’s better,” Mbappé said with a laugh (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “I’m not going to say anything about that out of respect for his club and for him, but when you talk about a player of that caliber, every club will be looking to sign him.”

This comes a few days after reports had started to circulate that Real Madrid could be keeping a very close eye on Upamecano. Madrid Universal captured some of the latest:

Reports in Spain suggest that Madrid see Upamecano as a potential addition to strengthen their backline, particularly with uncertainty surrounding the long-term fitness of several defenders.

Should Bayern fail to reach an agreement over a new contract, the Spanish giants could see an opportunity to make their move.

There is no reason to panic for Bayern Munich fans yet, but the clock is ticking…

Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show: Germany vs. Luxembourg, Slovakia

The German national team is back in action and has two very winnable games during this international break. With Luxembourg and Slovakia on deck, the Germans should be well-poised to pick up two victories.

Against Luxembourg, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann should be able to play with his lineup a bit, but against Slovakia, Nagelsmann will have to be on-point. Last time around, Slovakia stunned the Germans 2-0 and Nagelsmann will want to avoid a repeat of that flat performance.

This is what we have on tap for this episode:

Song of the Week: “Popular” by Nada Surf

I had not thought about this song in years, but I came across it randomly this week.

Released back in 1996 after the grunge movement began its descent from rampant popularity, this fit into the realm of alt-rock that was developing and was a massive radio hit. Does it hold up to modern times? Drop a comment and let us know:

Kompany just wants Karl to enjoy this time

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany loves what he has seen from Lennart Karl, but does not want him to get bogged down with pressure or chasing success. For now, it is just time to soak in the whole experience.

“As a young player, you don’t have pressure. I want Lennart to feel that too. He has to enjoy what he’s doing. If he makes mistakes, we’ll discuss it. Hopefully, at some point, the pressure will be on his shoulders. But for now he should enjoy the moment without any pressure,” Kompany said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

Bavarian Podcast Works — Flagship Show: Season 8, Episode 20

Bayern Munich is on break and the German national team has taken center stage, but that does not mean we are bereft of topics.

Luckily for all of us, there is much to talk about when it comes to both Bayern Munich, so let’s get to it. This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Show:

It: Welcome to Derry — Season 1, Episode 3

Much, much better, so let’s quickly get into it.

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Friday, November 14, 2025

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Monday, November 17, 2025

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

This Bundesliga season is shaping up to be another tight one for the unlucky few fighting to secure their place. The football down in the cellar might not be the most beautiful or creative — but it promises plenty of grit, fight, and energy.