Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise had been touted as a potential step up this summer, with Premier League clubs in the hunt for him. However, things took a sudden turn when he decided to go to Bayern Munich in a bid to regain the Bundesliga.
Despite a season in which they had everything to play for, including the signing of England international Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur last summer and reinforcements in midfield and the final line, they were overtaken by Stuttgart in the last minute and finished a disappointing third.
The club, under new manager Vincent Kompany, are determined to regain their crown, but some players have joined and some have left. Rumours of departures are rife for the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt and Kim Min-jae, while the departure of French international Kingsley Coman is also a yellow light.
According to HITC, three clubs – Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea – have made contact with the player’s agent to explore the possibility of acquiring him. Meanwhile, it is not known whether they would pay a transfer fee, believed to be £50 million, for the injury-prone 28-year-old winger.
He has had spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and has an impressive record at Bayern with 63 goals and 66 assists in 294 games, as well as 57 appearances for the French national team, scoring eight goals. He has lifted numerous club and national team titles.
However, his injury habits show no sign of improving. He is out every season and is not the type of player who can be counted on throughout a tough season. And in the Premier League, with its increased intensity, he is likely to suffer further injuries.
His sharp dribble penetration is attractive, but the risk is too great. Also, he has a contract with Bayern until 2027 and it is unlikely that his demands will drop sharply.
Liverpool are looking for a new attacker, but they are not financially able to afford a player who is an injury risk to begin with, and there is no way they will continue to be interested in the French winger, but…?