Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano has reportedly approved a new contract at the club despite links with Liverpool and other clubs.

The France international had been in the final year of his Bayern contract, leading to plenty of speculation over his future.

However, Fabrizio Romano has now posted on X to end the speculation, stating that Upamecano now looks set to stay and sign a new deal at the Allianz Arena.

See below for details…

?? EXCLUSIVE: Dayot Upamecano approves new deal at Bayern, clubs interested are informed!

He’s set to sign new contract soon at FC Bayern, happy to stay as huge boost for the club after big efforts from club and player side to make it happen. ??

It will be valid until 2030. pic.twitter.com/bMysgAPKL3

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 2, 2026

Romano posted: “Dayot Upamecano approves new deal at Bayern, clubs interested are informed! He’s set to sign new contract soon at FC Bayern, happy to stay as huge boost for the club after big efforts from club and player side to make it happen. It will be valid until 2030.”

Dayot Upamecano decision looks like a blow for Liverpool

We’ve previously reported on Liverpool’s interest in Upamecano, as has Christian Falk in one of his columns here, but the Reds now look set to miss out on the 27-year-old.

This is hardly ideal for LFC at a time when they look in need of a major shake-up in defence, with Ibrahima Konate coming towards the end of his contract at Anfield.

Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger, so there could soon be the need for a player of Upamecano’s calibre to come in and become a new key player in Arne Slot’s back line.

Bayern fans will be delighted, though, as Upamecano can now put the speculation behind him and focus on getting back to his very best.

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Alternatives for Liverpool in defence

It will be interesting to see who else Liverpool might move for, but one name being most strongly linked is Rennes youngster Jeremy Jacquet.

The Athletic and others have claimed Liverpool are closing in on the talented young Frenchman, who would join in the summer.

Still, Liverpool could arguably do with at least one more new centre-back arriving in the near future.

The post Deal approved: Liverpool transfer target’s big decision confirmed by Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal have reportedly made an enquiry about Bayern Munich central midfielder Leon Goretzka, though a move currently looks unlikely.

That’s according to a report from talkSPORT, who state that the Gunners had explored the option of landing Goretzka to give them cover for the injured Mikel Merino.

The experienced Germany international is out of contract with Bayern this summer, so looks to be heading out of the Allianz Arena on a free transfer.

This could have given Arsenal an opportunity to sign Goretzka on the cheap, but it seems this now won’t be happening.

What we know about Arsenal’s interest in Leon Goretzka

Consulting our sources in the industry, we can confirm Arsenal have had some interest in Goretzka, but the 30-year-old appears to have made up his mind to see out his Bayern contract and leave for a new challenge in the summer.

This gives Goretzka more time to evaluate offers that come in, and it’s not necessarily clear that he’d get much more playing time at Arsenal than he’s currently getting at Bayern.

At various points in the day, we’ve been informed that it’s “likely” we’ll see Arsenal sign someone as cover for Merino, but with just over an hour left until the window shuts, this now seems increasingly unlikely.

Arsenal also linked with Sandro Tonali

There have also been surprise rumours today about Arsenal eyeing up Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali.

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This was confirmed by David Ornstein of the Athletic, but with the reporter also making it clear that Tonali would not be leaving St James’ Park this winter.

Tonali could perhaps be one to watch again in the summer, whereas Goretzka would surely only have been a short-term option as he no longer looks like being at the peak of his powers.

The Sun have also linked Tonali with Chelsea and Manchester City.

The post Enquiry made: Arsenal have explored Deadline Day move to sign Bayern Munich star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Europe’s air travel infrastructure was thrown into chaos as widespread flight cancellations and delays impacted key hubs: Munich International (MUC), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Helsinki‑Vantaa (HEL) airports. The disruptions reverberated across international connections, leaving travelers stranded, disrupting tourism flows and straining airport resources at peak travel periods.

The scale of operational breakdown is laid bare in the latest figures: airlines recorded several cancelled flights and hundreds of delays across these three major airports over the disruption period. The knock‑on effects spilled into hotel bookings, tour itineraries and business travel plans, prompting official warnings for travellers to expect ongoing instability in European skies.

Passengers faced multi‑hour waits, last‑minute cancellations, and limited alternatives — triggering travel chaos that extended far beyond airport terminals. Tourism stakeholders and travel companies reported significant economic impact as visitors missed tours, events and booked experiences in major European destinations.

Exact Figures: Cancellations and Delays by Airport and Airline

The figures below — as sourced from official airport statistics and airline operational reports — reveal the precise scale of cancellations and delays:

Source: FlightAware

Overview: Scale of Disruption — Hundreds of Flights Affected

Across the three airports:

• Munich International Airport (MUC) recorded 1 cancellation and 70 total delays
• Charles de Gaulle (CDG) experienced 2 cancellations and ~234 delays
• Helsinki‑Vantaa (HEL) had 4 cancellations and 59 delays

In total, this operational fallout amounted to 7 confirmed flight cancellations and 363 flight delays at these hubs within the disruption period. These figures underscore the severe operational pressure faced by Europe’s air system.

What Caused the Cancellations and Massive Delays?

While official weather bureaus and airport authorities have not attributed all disruptions to a single cause, multiple factors converged:

1. Severe Weather Patterns

• Blizzard‑like conditions and heavy rainfall in central Europe disrupted ground operations at Munich and Paris CDG, making runways unsafe and causing turnaround delays.
• Ice and winter storms in Northern Europe affected aircraft de‑icing operations at Helsinki, adding to delays.

2. Aircraft Operational Constraints

• Airlines reported technical issues and mandatory maintenance checks, forcing flights to be held or cancelled.
• Tight crew scheduling and regulatory limits on crew duty hours meant that delays compounded into cancellations if backlogs could not be resolved.

3. Staffing Pressures

• Several carriers reported shortages in ramp staff or flight crews due to seasonal demand, increasing the likelihood of delays as resources were stretched thin.

These converging factors turned routine operations into a logistical bottleneck affecting flights across continents.

Travellers Bear the Brunt: Passenger Impact Across Europe

The human impact was immediate:

Overnight Stranding

Thousands of passengers were stranded through the night at Munich, Paris and Helsinki airports. With hotels already operating near capacity, many travellers resorted to sleeping on terminal floors or spending hours on hold with airline support lines.

Missed Connections

Delays rippled across connecting flights — particularly for travellers heading to long‑haul destinations like the US, Middle East and Asia. Missing a connection often meant rebooking entire itineraries, compounding stress and financial losses for thousands.

Tourism Bookings Thrown into Turmoil

Visitors bound for major European attractions — from Munich’s beer gardens and Christmas markets to Paris’s museums and Helsinki’s winter festivals — saw key bookings disrupted. Scheduled tours, museum reservations and even cruise embarkations were forced to be rescheduled or cancelled.

Passengers reported:

• Lost prepaid accommodations
• Missed cultural tours and events
• Difficulty securing alternative flights
• Extended wait times exceeding 8–12 hours

Social media and travel forums were inundated with pleas for flight updates, rebooking guidance and customer support contacts as frustrated travellers shared their experiences.

Tourism Industry Warnings: Economic Shockwaves

The tourism sector — a cornerstone of economic activity in Munich, Paris and Helsinki — took an immediate hit:

Hotels & Hospitality

Hoteliers reported lower guest arrival rates on key travel dates, with some hotels facing last‑minute cancellations as passengers never reached their destinations.

Tours & Attractions

Tour operators noted rising no‑shows and refund claims as disrupted travellers missed once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences such as Paris nightlife tours, Munich cultural visits and scenic excursions from Helsinki.

Transport Networks

Buses, ferries and train operators that coordinate with air schedules faced cascading adjustments as flight schedules fluctuated unpredictably.

In cities where tourism accounts for a high share of local economic activity, such aviation disruption translates directly into financial stress for small businesses and service providers.

Airports and Airlines Respond: What’s Being Done

Airport authorities at MUC, CDG and HEL issued guidelines urging passengers to:

• Check flight status before travelling to the airport
• Contact airlines directly for rebooking and compensation
• Allow extra time for security and boarding due to backlogs

Several airlines have increased staff at customer service centres to assist with rebooking, while airports provided lounges and rest zones for delayed travellers.

European air traffic control authorities are working to prioritise departures and arrivals once weather systems stabilise, aiming to reduce backlogs over the coming days.

Key Routes Most Disrupted

Passengers travelling on the following route corridors were particularly affected:

• Munich Paris
• Paris London & Northern Europe
• Helsinki Scandinavian Capitals
• Trans‑Atlantic connections via Paris and Munich

High‑traffic flights — especially evening departures — were most vulnerable to delays cascading from earlier schedule disruptions.

Conclusion: A Wake‑Up Call for European Air Travel Resilience

With 363 flights delayed and 7 flights cancelled across Munich, Paris and Helsinki, travelers and tourism businesses alike have faced the sharp end of operational breakdowns. The disruptions highlight vulnerabilities in European aviation during winter volatility.

Airlines, airports and regulators are now under growing pressure to improve contingency planning, enhance communication systems and strengthen operational resilience.

For travelers, the message is clear: expect delays, monitor flight statuses continuously, and prepare contingency plans when flying through major European hubs during unpredictable weather seasons.

European travel enthusiasts, tour operators, and business passengers alike are now watching closely to see how long it takes for flight operations to return to normal and what long‑term changes will be made to prevent future travel upheavals.