Liverpool have been linked with a transfer move for Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise earlier this week, while Chelsea have decided to move away from a possible deal because it has become too expensive. Instead, Bayern Munich is now expected to seal a deal for the 22-year-old.
That is according to The Athletic, with the outlet suggesting that while Chelsea remained keen on Olise a year on from trying to bring him to Stamford Bridge initially, it has become too costly a deal to pull off. Instead, Olise is set to join Vincent Kompany in swapping the Premier League for the Bundesliga.
Olise has been tentatively linked with a transfer to Liverpool, but if it’s too much money even for Chelsea, the chances are that the Reds would come to the same conclusion (and probably a lot more quickly). He also plays in the same position as Mohamed Salah.
Nevertheless, Liverpool does need to add even more depth to its attack this summer. With one eye on a possible long-term succession plan for replacing Salah and another on adapting to the expanded Champions League format and ensuring they have enough options, the Reds could do with having one more player in forward areas.
If Bayern Munich is getting Olise, perhaps that could open up the possibility of an exit for Leroy Sane or Serge Gnabry, though given both are 28, neither are likely Liverpool targets. More importantly, the Olise deal could set the market trend for what represents good value this summer.
Olise, assuming that Bayern Munich will pay his full release clause, will cost £60m. As Liverpool seeks to improve its squad, perhaps that deal — the first big one aside from Kylian Mbappe’s free transfer to Real Madrid — will act as something of a marker.
Luis Diaz, for instance, who has Champions League experience, should be able to command an even greater fee should Barcelona firm up its interest in the Colombian.
With Liverpool having also been linked with a variety of wingers including Johan Bakayoko and Anthony Gordon, new sporting director Richard Hughes will want to emulate his boss, Michael Edwards, in discovering hidden value in the transfer market.
He might now have a deal against which to gauge his own moves as they are plotted behind the scenes, with the first big transfer agreement of the summer usually followed by a few more going through.
