RB Leipzig acknowledges contact between Bayern Munich and Dayot Upamecano

Well, things are a little awkward now at the top of the Bundesliga table.

RB Leipzig sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff said that he was aware that Bayern Munich had made contact with his star defender Dayot Upamecano and also that his club was essentially powerless to stop a move from happening due to the player’s release clause:

As RB managing director Oliver Mintzlaff confirmed on Saturday evening after the 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, he had personally phoned Bayern Munich’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Munich’s interest in the 22-year-old Frenchman was confirmed.

Mintzlaff went on to detail the conversation.

“We stayed in such a way that, when things get more specific, we will speak again,” Mintzlaff said to Sky (as captured by kicker). “He has an exit clause, which is now known, so we are not in the driver’s seat. These are decisions that we are not involved in. We are his employer, not his advisor.”

Mintzlaff, however, is not quite ready to concede that Upamecano will sign with Bayern Munich as he indicated multiple clubs were interested in exercising the player’s release clause.

“Of course, such a player is not just on Bayern’s note,” Mintzlaff said, while acknowledging that Rummenigge told him that “nothing has been decided yet” in Munich with regard to Upaecano.

Mintzlaff also said that he was told he would speak with Bayern that “when it becomes more specific” and the parties have “decided.”