Liverpool stand at a crossroads, a moment every great club fears but cannot avoid. For more than eight years Mohamed Salah has carried the red shirt with pride, breaking records, scoring goals that will be replayed forever, and becoming the face of the modern Liverpool era. But time waits for no man, not even Salah. The Egyptian king will soon turn 34, and though he remains a superstar, the whispers have already begun. Who replaces him? Who dares to step into his shadow? Who will take the torch and keep Liverpool shining in a Premier League world that shows no mercy?
That question has been haunting Anfield for more than a year, and the names have come and gone like waves on the Mersey. But now one name keeps echoing louder than the rest: Michael Olise. The former Crystal Palace winger who exploded into life at Bayern Munich. A player with magic in his boots, speed in his legs, and creativity that can light up any game. For Liverpool fans, he looks like the one, the perfect heir to Salah’s throne. But just as the Reds thought they might be close to building their future around him, a new storm has appeared. A storm with a name every football fan knows — Kylian Mbappe.
Reports from Spain reveal that Mbappe, fresh at Real Madrid and already taking influence, has submitted Olise’s name to the Madrid board. According to Defensa Central, Mbappe spoke directly to Madrid’s powerful scout Juni Calafat, insisting Olise would be an excellent addition. And if that was not enough, Mbappe himself whispered the idea to Olise during France camp, telling him to come join him at the Santiago Bernabeu. On the surface, it may have been casual, relaxed, maybe even playful. But when Mbappe talks, the world listens, and so does Real Madrid.
For Liverpool, this is a nightmare they know too well. How many times have they seen Real Madrid step into their plans, disrupt their hopes, and take what they want? The ghosts of past battles haunt them. Xabi Alonso, Michael Owen, even the Champions League finals where Madrid left Liverpool broken. And now, as they prepare for life without Salah, Madrid could once again appear as the villain.
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new manager, has been tasked with building the next great team. His first summer was promising: Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez for the full-backs, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak for the attack. These are the signings of a manager planning long-term, preparing to change the style of Liverpool while keeping the fire burning. But even with new signings, even with energy and optimism, Slot knows that the day Salah steps away will leave a hole so big it will take years to fill. The club cannot wait until it is too late. The successor must be ready. That is why Olise has become such a serious target.
Olise’s numbers speak louder than any rumour. In his first full season at Bayern Munich, he scored 20 goals and gave 23 assists in all competitions. That is not potential, that is world-class delivery. That is the kind of production Liverpool have come to expect from Salah. For Bayern, it was a bargain when they paid just under £50 million to get him from Crystal Palace. For Liverpool, it looks like destiny. But destiny in football is never simple, not when Real Madrid are circling.
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Mbappe’s influence cannot be ignored. He is not just another player at Madrid, he is the face of their new galáctico era. When he speaks, Florentino Pérez listens. When he points to a player, scouts pay attention. And when he jokes with Olise about joining him, even casually, the seed is planted. Madrid may not consider Olise their priority right now, but priorities change quickly in football. One injury, one failed target, one brilliant Olise performance in the Champions League, and suddenly he is top of the list. Liverpool know this. They know Madrid’s power.
For Liverpool fans, the fear is real. They have already watched other targets slip away in the past because bigger clubs waved their cheque books or offered brighter lights. To lose Olise in the same way would not just be a missed signing, it would be a dagger to their future. Replacing Salah is not just about numbers. It is about aura. It is about carrying the weight of expectation at Anfield, week after week, year after year. And among all the names thrown around, Olise looks like the one player who has both the talent and the personality to handle it.
The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele recently admitted he “cannot rule out” Liverpool going all-in for Olise soon. He confirmed what fans already know: Liverpool want a long-term Salah replacement in the next summer or two. The noises suggest Olise is top of their shopping list. But that list could collapse if Madrid enter the race fully.
Money will also play its part. Bayern bought Olise for under £50m, but his value has already doubled, maybe even tripled. With 20 goals and 23 assists in one season, Bayern know they are holding gold. They will demand a massive fee, perhaps £90m or £100m, maybe even more. Liverpool will have to decide if they are ready to spend that much, especially after already investing heavily in Isak. Real Madrid, on the other hand, rarely blink at such numbers. If they want him, they will pay.
Yet, there is another side to this. Madrid, for all their power, may not see Olise as urgent. They already have Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and now Mbappe. Their wings are not empty. Liverpool, though, need Olise more than anyone. That desperation, that hunger, could be their advantage. They can offer him the role of main man, the opportunity to be the one who replaces Salah, the one who carries the Anfield roar. Madrid may tempt him with glory, but Liverpool can tempt him with legacy.
Imagine Olise walking out at Anfield, the Kop singing his name, the weight of Salah’s number falling on his shoulders. Imagine him cutting inside, curling shots into the top corner, celebrating with the crowd that craves new heroes. That is the dream Liverpool want to sell him. That is the story they need him to believe.
But dreams are fragile in football. Already the whispers of Mbappe’s influence spread doubt. Already fans are nervous. Already the question rises: will Liverpool act fast enough, or will they once again see Madrid steal their hope?
Time will tell, but one thing is certain: this battle for Olise is bigger than just one transfer. It is a fight for the future. Salah will not last forever. Van Dijk will not last forever. The torch must be passed. Liverpool cannot afford to lose.
And so the stage is set. Liverpool, desperate to protect their legacy. Madrid, powerful and tempting. Olise, young, brilliant, and standing at the centre of it all. Mbappe’s words may have been relaxed, but they have shaken the transfer world. For Liverpool, the mission is simple: do not let another dream slip away.
Because when Salah finally steps off the stage, when the curtain falls on the Egyptian king, Anfield will look for the next star to light the sky. And if Michael Olise walks out in white instead of red, the heartbreak will echo for years.
