Liverpool warned over £87m transfer for Mohamed Salah successor - 'We can imagine'

Bayern Munich's sporting director, Christoph Freund, has issued a stern warning to Liverpool and Chelsea that they are under no obligation to sell star player Michael Olise. The French international, who has been linked with a Premier League return, joined the Bundesliga titans in a €60m (£52m) deal in the summer of 2024 and quickly became one of their key players.

The 23-year-old forward shone in his first season with the club, scoring 20 goals and providing 23 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions as he helped Bayern reclaim the Bundesliga title. Olise has since continued his stellar form into the current season, and already boasts five goals and six assists from just 10 games.

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His performances have not gone unnoticed, with the ex-Crystal Palace player reportedly drawing attention from several top European clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea. According to BILD, both Liverpool and Manchester City are keeping a close eye on the Frenchman, while Chelsea are also showing strong interest.

The Blues have missed out on signing the forward twice before, having also seen him previously spend seven years in their academy. In the summer of 2023, Olise rejected a move back to Chelsea, despite the London club activating his £35m release clause. Instead, he chose to renew his contract with Crystal Palace.

Chelsea showed interest again ahead of his move to Bayern, but eventually pulled out due to the surplus of players they already had in his position. Reports suggest it would now take at least €100m (£87m) to tempt Bayern into selling Olise next summer, but BILD claims such a price tag wouldn't deter potential suitors.

Liverpool, who twice broke the British transfer record this summer, in particular are credited as being willing to spend big on a player who has been touted as a possible long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. Conscious of growing interest, Bayern are reportedly preparing a fresh contract offer for the 23-year-old in an attempt to ward off admirers.

Nevertheless, Olise's existing deal doesn't expire until 2029, and sporting director Christoph Freund has issued a warning to prospective buyers that Bayern view the winger's future as being firmly in Germany.

"We're not under any pressure," the sporting director told German football podcast Sky90 - which is a Sky Sport Germany production. "We can imagine him playing for Bayern for the next seven, eight, or nine years.

"Michael has a long-term contract, he proved himself and took steps forward." Fellow Bayern sporting director Max Erbel has also gone on record about wanting Olise to remain at the Allianz Arena.

"He still has over three and a half years left on his contract," he was recently quoted as saying by BILD when discussing a new contract for the forward.

"He will increasingly become a decisive factor in FC Bayern's game and shape the future of this team - if it's up to us; the longer, the better."

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