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The Liverpool boardroom's succession planning looks to be continuing with reports suggesting they're eyeing Bayern Munich's Michael Olise as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah.
The Reds' strong rapport with Bayern could be a secret weapon in ensuring a seamless deal next year. After a three-season spell at Crystal Palace, where he netted 16 goals and provided 25 assists, Olise made the move to Bayern in July 2024 for an initial $60million. The transfer raised eyebrows, with the 23-year-old also attracting significant attention from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United.
While he saw his career progressing better elsewhere, Liverpool is now actively looking to bring Olise back to English shores next summer, according to the Daily Mail. Should Arne Slot and the Reds hierarchy decide to act on their interest, their strong ties with Bayern could be a huge factor in enabling smooth negotiations for the right winger.
Liverpool has had numerous dealings with Bayern over the years, strengthening their bond. Over the past 11 years, the two clubs have negotiated deals for five players.
Since 2014, Liverpool has sold three players to the German side, with Pepe Reina, Sadio Mane, and most recently Luis Diaz all making the journey from Merseyside to Bavaria. The Reds purchased Ryan Gravenberch from the Bundesliga team in 2023, and three years prior to that, they signed Thiago Alcantara from them as well.
Before those deals, Liverpool also snapped up Markus Babbel and Alou Diarra from the German outfit in 2000 and 2002 respectively. The prospect of straightforward negotiations will be enormously attractive following their lengthy and complex chase of Alexander Isak from Newcastle during the summer.
Liverpool's unsuccessful bid for Palace skipper Marc Guehi, which fell through at the eleventh hour after drawn-out discussions this summer, will also play on their mind in future transfer business. There's absolutely no doubt that Salah continues to perform at an elite level despite his advancing age.
The Egyptian star netted 34 goals last season whilst helping deliver the Reds' 20th top-flight crown and claimed the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, becoming the first footballer in history to secure the honour three times, having previously claimed it in 2018 and 2022.
Nevertheless, Salah is 33 and Liverpool have demonstrated they are shifting towards building a more youthful attack following their summer captures of Isak, 25, Florian Wirtz, 22, and Hugo Ekitike, 23.
It seems Olise has been on the Reds' radar for quite some time as well. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp once revealed he was monitoring the Frenchman during the 2021/22 campaign. Klopp admitted he observed Palace's 0-0 stalemate with Manchester City for 65 minutes for "analysis reasons."
Yet Olise was substituted in the 65th minute at Selhurst Park, making it rather transparent who had caught his attention. Liverpool is evidently focusing on the long-term vitality of the club across the pitch.
This summer, they brought in 18-year-old Italian centre back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for $35M, and their pursuit of Palace star Guehi suggests they're planning for a future beyond 34-year-old club captain Virgil van Dijk.
New recruit Milos Kerkez, 21, has claimed the first XI left-back position from 31-year-old Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili 24, who joined from Valencia, is vying to challenge Alisson Becker, 32, for the title of the club's No. 1.
Salah, who moved to Liverpool from Roma in 2017, is now the club's third-highest scorer ever with 246 goals. He signed a new two-year deal in April.
The 33-year-old is also joint fourth with Andy Cole in the Premier League all-time scoring charts at 187 and ranks 10th in assists with 88. His unwavering ambition to climb these tables to the very top will arguably halt Liverpool's search for his replacement in the near future.
However, Olise, who has begun this season with three goals in two games for Bayern and boasts 24 goals and 23 assists during his stint in Germany, could be a promising candidate to take up the Egyptian's mantle.
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