Reds legend ‘agrees’ Liverpool should make box-office signing of world class attacker.

Liverpool’s search for a successor to Mohamed Salah has accelerated following confirmation the club icon will depart at the end of the season, with Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise emerging as a headline target amid growing transfer speculation.

Reds legend Steven Gerrard has added weight to the narrative, insisting his former club must recruit a “box office” attacker capable of matching Salah’s elite output and global appeal. Gerrard argued that only “top three or four” wingers in world football could adequately fill the void, with Olise widely viewed as fitting that bracket given his explosive form in Germany.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a standout spell since joining FC Bayern Munich, producing elite numbers and cementing himself as one of Europe’s most creative wide players. Reports suggest LIVERPOOL are prepared to spend heavily—potentially breaking their transfer record—to secure a marquee replacement for Salah, whose departure leaves both a tactical and symbolic gap at Anfield

‘I think the concern, if you’re trying to replace Salah, in terms of like-for-like, I think there are very few out there that you can go and grab,’ Gerrard told talkSPORT Breakfast.

‘Olise would be one, I would say, but I don’t think he’d be available. But from experience, being around Liverpool as a player, and also since I’ve left, Liverpool’s recruitment team will have different options, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll look for a like-for-like.

‘When we had to replace Mané, for example, we went for Diaz, who’s slightly different, if you like, or when Suarez has left, they’ve had different types of options to try and replace the players.

‘But Liverpool have got a fantastic record of replacing top players that have gone before, so I’ve got every confidence from a recruitment point of view that they’ll have different types of options, not necessarily a like-for-like, but one thing is for certain, they have to try and replace some kind of goal involvement in terms of goals and assists, which is extremely difficult, because they’ve been incredible for Liverpool for many years.’

However, Bayern’s stance is unequivocal. Senior figures at the Bundesliga giants have publicly dismissed the prospect of a sale, with club leadership insisting they would not entertain even extraordinary offers. The German champions view Olise as central to their long-term project, and his contract—running until 2029 without a release clause—further strengthens their negotiating position.

There is also a broader sense that some of the speculation may be inflated. Recent comments from Bayern hierarchy have criticised the spread of “unfounded” rumours linking the player with Liverpool, underlining the gap between online chatter and concrete negotiations.

Is Olise open to leaving Bayern?

At present, there is little credible evidence to suggest Olise is actively seeking an exit. Bayern’s messaging indicates the player is settled and competing for major honours—an important factor for elite talents.

That said, the situation is not entirely closed. LIVERPOOL’s long-standing admiration, combined with the scale of their rebuild post-Salah, means interest is genuine and persistent. Historically, Bayern have sanctioned major sales under the right conditions, and Premier League allure—particularly a central role in a new era at Liverpool—could yet prove tempting

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