Liverpool have added 23-year-old attacking star Michael Olise to their list of transfer targets for next summer. The Frenchman was one of Bayern Munich’s standout performers last season.
The French player’s contract with Munich runs until 2029. However, a potential transfer will ultimately hinge on two factors: Olise’s willingness regarding where he wants to play in the future, and the transfer fee the English club (Liverpool) is prepared to offer.
Liverpool’s hierarchy is pushing the boundaries of their self-defined "threshold" (for transfer spending), and they will not entertain any arbitrary fee demands.
Clubs in England are operating at an increasingly high standard. They boast leading infrastructure, and their scouting and youth development systems are also of top-tier quality. Clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal maintain operations at the highest level while enjoying complete stability—an aspect that sets them apart from clubs like Bayern Munich.
Nevertheless, some smaller-sized clubs are also striving for success through solid efforts, including Brighton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Brentford, Burnley, and Sunderland. The newly-promoted side from the North East of England (Sunderland) has just signed Granit Xhaka (32), the key midfielder of Bayer Leverkusen, who finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga.
This serves as evidence that, in terms of European competitions, there are no longer "small clubs" in England.
