Michael Olise has proven to be one of the best wingers in the world after leaving the Premier League behind, subsequently fielding interest from Liverpool.
It’s no great surprise, really. After departing Crystal Palace and heading to Germany, the Frenchman has scored 36 goals and amassed a staggering haul of 50 assists.
According to reports, the Reds view him as a ‘dream’ target in their bid to replace Mo Salah this summer. The Egyptian announced his decision to depart Anfield on Tuesday evening, with Liverpool now left with a huge void to fill.
The winger is undoubtedly one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen in the Premier League, so finding a replacement will be no easy task.
Liverpool searching for new wingers
Olise may well be the ideal target as far as Liverpool are concerned, but actually getting him out of Munich will be an incredibly challenging task.
He only moved to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2024 and seems more than settled, judging by the jaw-dropping numbers that he has delivered.
So, who are the alternatives? Well, Football FanCast exclusively revealed in February that officials at Anfield had been in regular talks with the agents of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with an agreement on personal terms close.
They view Diomande as a “future best in the world winger” but as they bid to replace one of their best players of all time, perhaps a more proven asset would do the trick.
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Well, Liverpool are scouring the market and appear to have identified precisely that. Indeed, according to reports from the i paper, they have cast their eyes in the direction of PSG forward Bradley Barcola.
The Champions League winner is viewed as a more ‘achievable’ signing than Olise by Liverpool, with it stated in the report that he has ‘long been coveted by senior figures at Anfield’.
The price point may be a sticking point, with previous reports suggesting that the European champions may be looking for something in the region of £87m to let the Frenchman go.
Why Barcola could be a better signing than Olise
Olise has become a genuine elite superstar since trading Selhurst Park for the Allianz Arena. This season alone, the left-footed wide man has 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 outings. Not many players in Europe can say they boast better numbers or even come close.
As a result, surely signing anyone else would be a strange call? Well, in Barcola, they’d be getting a like-minded player to Olise, even if his numbers aren’t quite as impressive in 2025/26.
Last term, as PSG won the continent’s top title, he helped himself to 21 goals, more than Olise has ever managed in a single season. Barcola also picked up 21 assists during a staggering individual campaign.
This season, however, the 23-year-old has fallen behind Olise slightly, scoring 12 times and supplying six assists in all competitions.
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Barcola vs Olise & Diomande since 2024/25 |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
Barcola |
Olise |
Diomande |
|
Games |
95 |
94 |
39 |
|
Goals |
33 |
36 |
13 |
|
Assists |
27 |
50 |
8 |
Based on form alone, Olise is your man. When replacing Salah, you need a world-class talent who can provide and score in equal measure. Yet, he is unattainable, not to mention he’d cost a fortune. Some reports suggest Bayern would be looking for around £170m before they even consider speaking to any interested parties.
So, for around £80m less, you could get your hands on Barcola, a player who has a few more strings to his bow. While the France international is primarily a left winger, he can play on either side. In contrast, Olise is more restricted to playing on the right and cutting inside.
Consequently, not only could FSG and Co replace Salah here, but they could also find a replacement for Cody Gakpo whose form has rather fallen off a cliff this term. He has scored just once in his last 14 appearances, failing to pick up an assist in that time either.
Hailed as an “elite” wide player by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Barcola is one of the best wingers in Europe right now and that added boon of playing on either side makes him stand out among some of the other options Liverpool are looking at.
For good measure, the young PSG superstar could also play as a centre-forward. Throughout his career, he has featured in that role on 22 occasions, bagging nine times. As a right winger, he’s scored six and supplied 14 goals in 33 matches, while when he plays on the left, he has played 108 times in that role, assisting and scoring 32 goals apiece.
It’s easy to see why Olise is the dream target but do not turn your nose up at Barcola. Possessing electric pace, devastating dribbling and the ability to create something out of nothing, he’d be a wonderful acquisition this summer.
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