Real Madrid concede ground in Olise pursuit as Liverpool move to pole position

Real Madrid have privately accepted defeat in the race to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise and now believe the 24-year-old is headed for Liverpool, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Olise, who joined Bayern in 2024, has seen his reputation soar in Germany and has been on Liverpool’s radar since his Crystal Palace days. While the Bernabéu hierarchy registered firm interest, it is Liverpool who have emerged as the clear front-runners for the France international’s signature.

The player’s camp is understood to be increasingly receptive to a switch to Anfield, even though his Bayern deal runs until June 2029. Liverpool’s project envisions Olise as the long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian widely expected to depart this summer.

Born in Hammersmith, London, Olise is said to view a return to England as an attractive step, especially if it comes with the prospect of becoming the attacking focal point at a club of Liverpool’s stature—an opportunity complicated at Bayern by the presence of high-profile teammates such as Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and the coaching leadership under Vincent Kompany.

Family members of the left-footed attacker were spotted in the stands at the weekend as Liverpool slipped to a defeat against Brighton, a result that underlined the scale of the rebuild anticipated at Anfield. Club officials hope a comprehensive summer overhaul, potentially including a managerial change, will reinforce the pitch to Olise.

Bayern’s valuation remains fluid. German sources indicate the Bundesliga champions would consider an offer around €100 million, a figure lower than earlier suggestions of nearly double that amount. Should Olise push for a move back to the Premier League, Bayern’s negotiating leverage could diminish further.

Liverpool now face the task of converting their long-standing interest into a completed deal, but with Real Madrid stepping back, the path to Merseyside appears clearer than ever.