Arsenal have made an inquiry about Michael Olise’s availability at Bayern Munich, according to reporting out of Spain by Fichajes, turning what had been a Liverpool and Real Madrid duel into a three-club tangle.
The 24-year-old France international is contracted to Bayern until 2029 and now carries a reported price tag of €200m (£169m), a long way clear of the €53m Bayern paid Crystal Palace in 2024. Since arriving in Bavaria he has recorded 50 goals and 58 assists in 114 appearances, and has eight goal contributions in his first six matches of the current season.
Hainer: ‘From a position of strength’
Bayern’s leadership is pushing back hard. In comments reported by Goal, club president Herbert Hainer named Real Madrid directly and made clear he has no intention of parting with the winger.
“Bayern Munich are a club who do not have to sell. We make our decisions from a position of strength. Michael Olise is under contract with us until 2029,” Hainer said.
“Whether Real Madrid or anyone else makes a move, we know how to defend ourselves pretty well. Bayern Munich have plenty to offer.”
Bayern are reportedly working to extend the deal to 2032 with a sharp salary bump, but talks have stalled over Olise’s camp pushing for a release clause, a term his current contract does not contain, and one the club has so far resisted.
Salah’s exit opened the door for Liverpool
Liverpool’s interest predates Arsenal’s. With Mohamed Salah no longer at Anfield, head coach Arne Slot has yet to bring in a specialist to replace him on the right. Olise, who ran that flank for Crystal Palace for three seasons before his Bayern move, has been floated as the natural fit.
Arsenal’s thinking looks different. Mikel Arteta’s side are in the market for a marquee attacking addition, and Bukayo Saka has started this campaign below his usual level. CaughtOffside noted that Olise outscored him 22 goals to 11 across all competitions last season. In that framing, Olise would arrive as an upgrade on the right rather than cover for Saka.
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Olise’s reported La Liga tilt
The complication for both English clubs is that Olise’s own preference reportedly points elsewhere. Sources close to the player have told TeamTalk he is “settled in Germany” and has no plans to push for a return to England; if he does eventually leave Bayern, his preference is understood to be Spain, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona aware of his situation.
That makes Hainer’s willingness to single out Madrid revealing, Bayern evidently view the Spanish champions as the most concrete threat.
Hainer closed with a bullish forecast on the player he still intends to keep.
“I’m convinced he’ll win the Ballon d’Or one day, perhaps even this year,” he said.
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