Bayern Munich‘s Michael Olise has been namechecked as a potential Mohamed Salah successor, with the 23-year-old one to keep an eye on for Liverpool.
Salah signed a new contract to 2027 last season, but Liverpool’s succession planning will already be at the forefront of their minds as the Egyptian averages 30 goals a season.
The Reds’ recruitment staff are known to have held interest in Olise, who now plies his trade for Bayern Munich after leaving Crystal Palace last summer for around £50 million.
He was linked as long as four years ago when he was at Reading, and the Mail‘s Lewis Steele has stated that he “cannot rule out” Liverpool making a move next summer.
Steele reports that the club want a long-term replacement for Salah “in the next summer or two” and that “the early noises” are that Olise “could be right at the top of their shopping list.”
There are no definitives from Steele, but it stands to reason that the 23-year-old will be watched closely this season.
He is a skilful and dynamic winger who has 47 goals and 62 assists in his club career so far, and in four outings for Bayern Munich this season already has four goals to his name.
The Frenchman’s contract with the Bavarian side expires in 2029, but there have been suggestions of a release clause that can be triggered next summer, which would be attractive to Liverpool if true.
After concerns over his injury record throughout 2022/23 and 2023/24, Olise went on to play 55 times for Bayern in his debut season for a total of 3,842 minutes.
His record would have placed him fourth for the most minutes played at Liverpool last season, behind only Salah (4,501), Virgil van Dijk (4,437) and Ryan Gravenberch (4,207).
What type of player is Michael Olise?
Although opting to represent France, Olise would be categorised as a homegrown player, a valuable asset for any Premier League club, following his development at Reading and Palace.
He is a left-footed attacker who favours the right wing, much like Salah, and enjoys cutting inside, setting up his teammates and running at his direct opponent.
Olise finished last season’s Bundesliga campaign with the most assists (15) and was second to Harry Kane for the most goal involvements (27), with FotMob ranking him as statistically the second-best player (7.99-out-of-10).
The 23-year-old created the most big chances (32) ahead of next best Florian Wirtz (17) and, perhaps more notably for Arne Slot, won possession in the final third 1.4 times per 90, the second-most of any Bundesliga player.
With 230 senior appearances for club and country at 23, plus experience in the Premier League, it would be no surprise if Liverpool did seek to pursue a move, though you expect they will not be the only ones.