Real Madrid launch €200m bid for ‘new Gareth Bale’

Robin Bairner

Updated: 6 Apr 2026 11:00 BST
5 min read

Gareth Bale, Real Madrid, 2018 Champions League final — © IMAGO

Real Madrid believe that they have found their next Gareth Bale and are prepared to launch a club-record €200 million bid to sign him, according to a report from Spain.

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Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise has broken out as one of the world’s standout players since moving to Bavaria from Crystal Palace, with the France international winger supplying 16 goals and 23 assists for Vincent Kompany’s side this season.

After two years at the Bundesliga club, interest is mounting in Olise, and while Liverpool carry a heavy interest, their ability to sign the 24-year-old will be tested by an extraordinary offer from Real Madrid.

Current ETV

Michael Olise

M, AM (R)

Bayern

Michael Olise

M, AM (R)

Bayern

ETV Range

€126.9M - €155.1M

Real Madrid prepare record Michael Olise offer

Los Blancos are willing to spend up to €200m to secure Olise, according to a report from Fichajes.

This would smash the club-record fee of €115m that they paid Chelsea for Eden Hazard in 2019. Indeed, it would be the second most-expensive transfer of all-time, training only Neymar’s €222m switch to PSG.

It would likely take such a figure to prise Olise away from Bayern. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has skyrocketed this season to €141m, making him the third most valuable player in the world behind Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland.

© IMAGO/FootballTransfers - Michael Olise, ETV development at Bayern Munich

Why Real Madrid want him

Olise is Real Madrid’s top summer priority, according to the Spanish source, which claims they see him as the ‘new Bale’ thanks to his speed, dribbling ability and powerful running in open play.

Able to break down stubborn defences and capable of creating danger at key moments, he is ‘precisely’ the type of player that the Bernabeu side are hunting.

Bale might have been an unpopular figure at Real Madrid in his latter days at the club, in part because of the belief that he prioritised his golf more than his football, but he played over 250 times for Los Blancos, scoring 106 goals and creating 68 more.

The Welshman is best remembered for his stunning overhead kick that helped defeat Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, writing himself into the legend of the club in the process.

Vini Jr’s exit to fuel Olise transfer?

Los Blancos’ interest in Olise comes at a time when Vinicius Junior’s future at the club is looking shakier than ever.

Reports over the weekend indicated that Real Madrid have told the Brazil international that they will not improve the contract offer currently on the table for him.

Vini Jr has just one year remaining on his contract in the Spanish capital and could be sold in the summer, with intermediaries having contacted Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United to discuss the 25-year-old’s potential availability, as per TEAMtalk, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have been approached too.

The possibility of a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League is also something that must be treated seriously in Vini Jr’s case.

Olise would be a natural replacement for Vini Jr – and even an upgrade on current form. If Los Blancos could raise a high transfer fee from the Brazilian, this could feasibly go towards funding the €200m deal that could prompt Bayern into a sale.

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