In a stunning twist that could reshape the Premier League landscape, Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayern Munich’s star winger Michael Olise has received a massive boost. Reports emerging from Germany reveal that Bayern are grappling with a ‘complicated situation’ in their efforts to secure Olise to a new long-term contract, potentially opening the door for a blockbuster £130m move to Anfield.
Olise, the 24-year-old French sensation, has been nothing short of phenomenal since his £60m switch from Crystal Palace to Bayern in July 2024. In just 91 appearances for the Bavarian giants, he has racked up an astonishing 33 goals and 48 assists, playing a pivotal role in their Bundesliga triumph and German Super Cup victory last season. This campaign, Olise has elevated his game further, netting 13 goals and providing 25 assists in 36 outings, forming a lethal attacking trio alongside Harry Kane and Luis Diaz.
Bayern’s dominance this term is undeniable—they hold a commanding 14-point lead atop the Bundesliga, have advanced to the Champions League round of 16, and are in the semi-finals of the German Cup. Yet, despite Olise’s integral contributions, contract negotiations are proving tricky, as detailed by Bild’s head of football, Christian Falk.
In his latest Bayern Insider column, Falk outlined the challenges: “Michael Olise is currently on a contract running until 2029, and Bayern Munich would love to have him sign a new contract until 2031. But this all takes time. With three years left on Olise’s current terms, Bayern have time on their hands. But, of course, they also heard that Liverpool are interested and Manchester City is watching the player.”
Falk highlighted the broader implications, noting Bayern’s simultaneous negotiations with other key players like Konrad Laimer and Harry Kane. “They also have the Konrad Laimer contract negotiations to think about, the Harry Kane negotiations… It’s a complicated situation,” he wrote. “What if you sign one player until 2031 and then the others say, ‘Hey, I want a longer contract’? It’s a bit of a dangerous game; the longer you wait, the more it invites other clubs to pick up the phone and call the player.”
Adding to the intrigue, Olise isn’t among Bayern’s top earners, with Jamal Musiala and Kane reportedly pulling in around €10m more annually. “Bayern can always give the right winger more money, but the longer they wait, the more complicated the situation becomes,” Falk added. “Bayern don’t want another ‘Upamecano case’. Nobody wants that!”—a reference to the messy contract saga involving defender Dayot Upamecano, which nearly led to his departure.
Liverpool, ever opportunistic, have been monitoring Olise closely. Sources confirmed earlier this week that the Reds have expressed genuine interest and conducted thorough checks on his availability. While Bayern have rebuffed initial enquiries and Olise himself shows no immediate desire to leave, the stalled talks could change the dynamics.
Speculative reports from Spain have fueled the fire, claiming Liverpool lodged a jaw-dropping €150m (£130m / $174m) bid for Olise, only to see it rejected. Undeterred, the Merseyside club is reportedly preparing a revised offer. There’s even talk of leveraging Bayern’s interest in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo to sweeten the deal and reduce the staggering fee.
Should the Olise pursuit falter, Liverpool have a contingency plan in place: RB Leipzig’s promising winger Yan Diomande, who has impressed with his pace and creativity in the Bundesliga.
This ‘dangerous’ exit saga at Bayern could prove to be the catalyst for one of the most spectacular transfers in recent memory. With Olise’s blend of speed, skill, and end product, he would be a dream addition to Liverpool’s attack, potentially slotting in alongside Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. As negotiations drag on in Munich, the phone lines to Olise’s representatives might soon be buzzing from Anfield.
For Liverpool fans, this bombshell represents hope amid a challenging season. Stay tuned as this story develops—could Olise be the next star to light up the Kop?