Bayern Munich braced for Liverpool approach as Reds identify Michael Olise as preferred Mohamed Salah successor

Liverpool have placed Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise at the top of their shortlist to succeed Mohamed Salah, but the Bundesliga champions are already moving to slam the door on any summer departure, sources have told TEAMtalk.

Anfield’s recruitment staff have unanimously endorsed the 23-year-old French international as the ideal candidate to fill the void whenever Salah moves on, citing Olise’s creativity, end-product and tactical intelligence as the perfect blend for the club’s next attacking era. Yet the admiration is unlikely to translate into a deal.

Bayern, who secured Olise from Crystal Palace last summer on a contract that runs until 2029, are preparing to open negotiations on an extension in a pre-emptive strike designed to ward off Premier League interest. People close to the player say Olise is content in Munich and feels no urgency to return to England, viewing his previous Premier League spell as a chapter already closed.

Liverpool accept that persuading Bayern even to enter talks will be “extremely difficult” given the length of Olise’s existing terms and the German club’s determination to protect a prized asset. With no release clause to trigger, the Merseysiders acknowledge that a transfer is “simply not realistic at this stage”.

Should a move for Olise fail to materialise, Liverpool have lined up a quartet of alternatives: Ivorian teenager Yan Diomande, Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Rennes prodigy Désiré Doué. None, however, are rated as highly within the club’s scouting department as the Bayern flyer.

The story adds another layer to a potentially pivotal summer on Merseyside, where speculation also surrounds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Manchester United have added the Argentine World Cup winner to their midfield shortlist alongside Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, though prising him away from Anfield is acknowledged as a formidable task.

Elsewhere, Bayern have distanced themselves from reports linking the club with AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit. Sport Bild’s Christian Falk indicates that the Bavarians are satisfied with existing midfield options, including Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and emerging talent Aleksandar Pavlović, and will not pursue the Dutchman. Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be monitoring Smit more closely.

In defence, Wolfsburg’s 22-year-old Greek centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis continues to attract Serie A heavyweights Inter Milan and Juventus, while Liverpool and Tottenham remain on alert. A fee of €35–45 million would be required for the left-footed defender, who is contracted until 2029.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have been informed that Nico Williams is open to a move this summer, with Barcelona and the Gunners leading the race to trigger the Spaniard’s €100 million release clause. Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern have also been alerted to his potential availability through intermediaries.

Finally, Bayern and midfielder Leon Goretzka are set to part ways at the end of the season, clearing room for fresh faces in the middle of the park as the club reshapes its squad.