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Liverpool's future aspirations of securing a deal for Michael Olise could be thwarted by Kylian Mbappe.
Despite having just splashed out around $600 million on new talent this summer, whispers are already circulating about the Reds' next grand plans. Arne Slot's attacking line-up saw significant reshuffling after clinching the Premier League title, with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez being sold to Bayern Munich and Al-Hilal, respectively.
Subsequently, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak were brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle, respectively. Alongside Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, and Rio Ngumoha, they're expected to find the back of the net for Liverpool.
Salah, who has netted 246 times in eight years, inked a two-year contract extension at the close of last season, extending his Liverpool tenure beyond his 35th birthday.
If 2027 is set to be the year Salah departs from Liverpool, it's been suggested since the recent transfer window shut that the next stage of the Reds' strategy will be to find a long-term successor.
Olise, 23, has already been earmarked as an early favorite.
However, Liverpool's prospects of signing the Bayern winger could take a hit if Real Madrid star Mbappe's alleged actions come to fruition.
As per Defensa Central, Mbappe has reportedly gone above and beyond to recommend his French national teammate to Madrid's chief scout, Juni Calafat, for potential recruitment.
What's more, they claim the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker has told Olise: "You have to come to Madrid," during a French training session over the ongoing September break.
Olise has demonstrated his quality in England, progressing through the ranks to feature for Reading, then Crystal Palace, before securing his transfer to Bayern in 2024.
In merely one campaign, he has already claimed a Bundesliga winners' medal.
Now, the latest speculation would suggest he may become a future target of Liverpool and Madrid's rival interest.
This is not the first time Mbappe is said to have interfered in transfers over the break, with Reds defender Ibrahima Konate joking about the striker attempting to persuade him to reject signing a new contract at Anfield amid speculation linking him to a move to the Spanish capital for free next summer.
"He calls me every two hours! No, no, no," Konate quipped.
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