Liverpool, pay attention: Olise is already better than Mbappe - and he can still improve

Tom Weber

• Updated: 8 Apr 2026 16:32 BST
• 10 min read

Analysis

If Liverpool needed more proof that they must break the bank on Michael Olise, the Frenchman delivered it in the Champions League.

The 24-year-old was unplayable at the Santiago Bernabeu as Bayern put Real Madrid to the sword. If it hadn't been for complacency and a lack of clinical finishing, the Bundesliga giants could easily have come away with a more resounding first-leg result than 2-1.

Olise terrorised left-back Alvaro Carreras and the rest of Real Madrid's shaky backline. Although he didn't score, he produced an assist, completed 85% of his 48 passes and created two chances.

Current ETV

Michael Olise

M, AM (R)

Bayern

Michael Olise

M, AM (R)

Bayern

€141M

ETV Range

€126.9M - €155.1M

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One thing that the stats can't account for is Olise's aura. Real Madrid were backpedalling whenever he got the ball. The France international has been striking fear into defenders all season. With 16 goals and 29 assists to his name, he has been nothing short of sensational this term.

Accordingly, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has exploded, skyrocketing from €79 million in September to €141m now. Only Lamine Yamal (€168.5m) and Erling Haaland (€145.2m) have a higher ETV at present.

Olise hasn't even hit his ceiling yet

The scary thing about Olise is that he can still get better. At just 24, he isn't even in his peak years yet, and both the data and the eye test back up that the winger can become even more ruthless.

Oliver Glasner, who briefly coached Olise before he embarked on his adventure in Munich, waxed lyrical about him earlier on Wednesday: "I'm not surprised," the Crystal Palace boss said.

"You could see it from the first day he was on the pitch. He was injured when I arrived but had a huge impact on our game when he was fit. He was still 22 at the time.

"I watched the game against Real Madrid. It was a great game to watch, and he was outstanding. His end to the season is incredible. This isn't his ceiling; he can still do better!"

Analytics firm SciSports believes that Olise certainly has best-in-the-world potential. SciSports analyses hundreds of in-game data points to calculate a SciSkill rating and potential.

Olise is already a top-five player right now. Only Luiz Diaz, Harry Kane and Haaland currently have a higher SciSkill rating than the 24-year-old. His potential, meanwhile, is only bettered by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.

Olise is currently the best French player in the world, ahead of William Saliba and Kylian Mbappe and the best right winger, ahead of Yamal. He has been the best winger in the Bundesliga by some distance this season and, less resoundingly, the best winger in the Champions League, according to SciSports.

Unsurprisingly, then, Olise is Liverpool's dream target to replace Mohamed Salah. Bayern are not worried about the interest in their star winger, with honorary president Uli Hoeness saying that he wouldn't even sell him for €200m.

Clearly, though, Liverpool should try to do whatever it takes to sign him. He would singlehandedly elevate the club and be a worthy successor to the Egyptian King. In hindsight, the Reds will surely regret going all-in on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak last summer.

Instead of spending €270m on two players they didn't need, they could have put that money towards convincing Bayern to sell Olise. That ship has seemingly sailed, but if FSG are serious about replacing Salah with a player who would be a similar game-changer, Olise ought to be their man - whatever the cost.

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