There is intense tug-of-war among big clubs over Michael Olise (24), who is playing at Bayern Munich alongside Kim Min-jae (30).
British outlet CaughtOffside on the 17th (KST), citing Germany's Bild, reported that Florentino Pérez (79), president of Real Madrid, has set Olise as his top target for the summer transfer window and has abruptly entered the transfer race.
Olise has compiled astonishing numbers with 15 goals and 27 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions, including 10 goals and 19 assists in 24 league games this season. For this reason, some assess that Olise's value has already far surpassed the €70 million paid when he was signed in January 2025 (about 120.2 billion won).
In particular, with Liverpool having earmarked Olise as Mohamed Salah's (34) long-term successor and worked hard to sign him, the heavyweight Real Madrid has moved to intercept. His price is likely to skyrocket.
Olise is evaluated as versatile enough to perform not only traditional winger duties but also an inside playmaker role. He plays a key role in Bayern Munich maintaining competitiveness in domestic and international competitions.
According to transfer reporter Ekrem Konur, Pérez is known to be an ardent fan of Olise. He plans an aggressive bid for Olise after the season ends and is willing to pay as much as €160 million (about 274.7 billion won), more than double the previous transfer fee.
Liverpool also appears likely to mobilize considerable funds. The plan is to pour the huge transfer fee revenue that would arise if Salah's departure becomes reality solely into signing Olise. A heated off-field battle is expected this summer.
But Bayern Munich's stance is firm. Olise is under a long-term contract through 2029. Moreover, Olise's contract does not include a buyout clause, so Bayern Munich holds strict control.
Bayern Munich's leadership views Olise as a core part of the club's long-term project. For that reason, Bayern Munich basically maintains a 'not for sale' policy regarding Olise. Club executives might still deliberate if offers exceed €100 million.
Real's season has not been smooth, having already been eliminated from cup competitions. Manager Xabi Alonso (44) parted ways with Real after only a few months in charge, and his successor Álvaro Arbeloa (43) has also failed to produce a clear turnaround. In the league they trail Barcelona by four points.
Real beat Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16. But if they fail to win the title, they will likely need to recruit new stars next season. Ultimately, Olise sits at the very top of that list.
Liverpool's situation is even more serious than Real's. In the league they have fallen to fifth, unworthy of a defending champion. They reached the FA Cup quarterfinals, but their next opponent is Manchester City.
Having been eliminated in the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) round of 16, Liverpool also trails 1-0 away to Galatasaray (Türkiye) in the Champions League and cannot be certain of reaching the quarterfinals. Above all, with the team's form fluctuating throughout the season, they may have to prepare for the possibility of finishing the season without any trophies.
There are many reasons, but Liverpool has been disappointed by Salah's sharp decline in form. Because Liverpool ultimately must fill the gap left by Salah, they have no choice but to move for Olise. It will be interesting to see whether there will be a final winner in the race for Olise despite Bayern Munich's declaration that he is not for sale.
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