Liverpool are reportedly willing to obliterate the British transfer record to sign Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Not even a day after the Reds confirmed the impending departure of club legend Mohamed Salah, reports in Germany say they have their eye on a potential replacement.
German news outlet Bild have said that the defending Premier League champions are willing to spend €200m (£173m) on France international Olise.
The former Crystal Palace man’s form at the Allianz Arena has made him one of European football’s hottest properties.
Olise has already registered 30 direct goal involvements in this season’s Bundesliga (11 goals, 19 assists), while racking up 43 across all competitions (16 goals, 27 assists) for a Bayern side that has certainly caught the eye.
Part of a devastating forward line alongside Harry Kane and former Kop hero Luis Diaz, the 24-year-old has got a great chance of adding to the Bundesliga title he won last term.
Vincent Kompany’s side sit nine points clear at the top of the league with seven games to go, and are among the favourites to win the Champions League, while they have also made the semi-finals of the German Cup.
According to Bild, Real Madrid are also preparing a €165m (£143m) swoop for Olise.
But Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl has said the club are ‘relaxed’ about the player’s future.
“We’re not even thinking about that [transfer rumours],” he told Bild.
“He’s an FC Bayern player and has all the opportunities here that top players could wish for. Michael has a contract with us until 2029, without a release clause. We're relaxed.”
CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen is also confident Bayern can keep him in Bavaria.
"No matter which club tries to lure him away: Anyone who plays for FC Bayern knows what they have at FC Bayern,” Dreesen explained.
Salah - who has been allowed to leave Liverpool for free this summer - will take some replacing at Anfield.
Olise bears some similarities to the Egyptian: a right-winger who loves to cut inside onto his left foot, boasting devastating output.
While the touted price tag may be a little steep for the Reds, who will also need to strengthen in other areas, Olise is someone that the Kop would feel confident in taking the mantle from the legendary Salah.
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and Fanatics has cut the price of this season's kits with 'M. Salah 11' printing.
