Bayern Munich rule out Liverpool transfer for winger Michael Olise
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has dismissed Liverpool’s hopes of signing Michael Olise this summer, insisting the winger will remain in Germany.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as the Premier League club reportedly search for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.
Real Madrid have also shown strong interest in the Frenchman following a superb individual World Cup campaign where he provided seven assists in eight matches.
Stunning debut season in Germany
Olise enjoyed an outstanding previous campaign under manager Vincent Kompany, registering a combined 48 goals and assists across 52 appearances.
His prolific attacking output helped the Bavarian giants secure a domestic double, lifting both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.
Consequently, the German champions are eager to retain their star attacker and are reportedly preparing to offer him a lucrative new contract.
Real Madrid speculation dismissed
When questioned about claims that the highly-rated forward was pushing for a move to Spain, Freund remained completely relaxed about the situation.
“This is absolutely not an issue for us.”
“We’re delighted that Michael is back from his holiday. He’ll play an important role for FC Bayern this season, just as he did last season, too.”
The sporting director’s comments followed a surprise 2-1 friendly defeat for a youthful Bayern side against third-tier outfit Wehen Wiesbaden.
Senior figures such as Olise and England captain Harry Kane were absent from that fixture but are expected to feature later in the pre-season schedule.
Alternative targets identified
Real Madrid recently issued a formal statement denying reports that they had submitted a £130m bid for the coveted attacker.
The Spanish club highlighted their excellent institutional relationship with Bayern and expressed regret over the circulation of unfounded speculation.
Given the firm stance from Munich, both Liverpool and Real Madrid are now actively exploring alternative attacking options in the transfer market.
The Merseyside club are reportedly monitoring Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to bolster their forward line.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have reportedly rejected an £85m bid from Los Blancos for Yan Diomande, demanding a fee closer to the £100m mark.