Liverpool should pull out all the stops to sign Michael Olise as Mohamed Salah’s successor this summer, former Reds midfielder Jermaine Pennant says. Salah is set to depart at the end of the season, leaving an enormous void to fill at Anfield. The Egyptian talisman has netted 257 goals in 440 appearances for Liverpool across the past nine seasons and may have already played his final match for the club, having picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend.
After last summer’s transfer window failed to provide the intended results, Liverpool’s recruiting squad is under intense pressure to perform. Liverpool manager Arne Slot has previously said that it is “probably impossible” to find a straight replacement for Salah, however RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande is one of those on the club’s radar.
Despite Bayern Munich’s stunning 5-4 Champions League semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, Olise has had an outstanding season, scoring 20 goals and providing 29 assists in 47 matches. The winger is committed to Bayern until 2029, having moved from Crystal Palace in 2024 for a reputed £51 million, but Pennant believes his previous team should make a bold bid.
After seeing Olise score a magnificent goal against PSG, Pennant turned to social media to declare: “Liverpool go out and get Olise right now, at all costs.” That is your substitute for Mo Salah. At any costs. “Any amount, plus Gakpo.”
Bayern CEO Max Eberl
Bayern are similarly hesitant to part with one of their treasured assets. When asked lately if Olise will continue at the club, Bayern CEO Max Eberl said, “Absolutely.” When asked if that attitude would remain steadfast even in the event of a big offer, he said, “Yes. We’re not having a second to think about anything.”
Pennant’s appeal comes after Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard expressed his love for the Frenchman. “When you are a full-back playing up against a winger, they normally have a weak side and you show them one way or another, depending what foot they are,” he said on TNT Sports.
The difficulty with him is that he can move both directions; his right foot is just as powerful as his left. You really want to show him on his right foot because that’s generally his weaker side, but you can see some of the assists and finishes with it. If you leave him in one-on-one scenarios, you’re in big danger.
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