Targeted by Real Madrid, Olise has a clear plan for his future

Michael Olise. He’s the one. Without question, he is the player who could reshape the transfer market in the years ahead. The Bayern Munich star has caught the attention of Europe’s other elite clubs, including Real Madrid. Bayern knows it, and securing his long-term future has become a matter of utmost importance in Munich.

German media outlets have revealed details in recent days of the club’s plan to convince him to stay, along with Harry Kane, whose own situation is also a top priority. Olise’s current contract runs through 2029. He arrived at the Bundesliga powerhouse two summers ago from Crystal Palace for a remarkably modest €53 million ($59 million). It is astonishing that the Premier League’s top clubs allowed a talent of his caliber to slip away for that fee.

Given Olise’s performances and the growing interest from rival clubs, there is still plenty to negotiate before the Frenchman puts pen to paper on a new deal. Bayern is prepared to go all out to keep him. The club is willing to make him the highest-paid player in the squad, ahead of both Kane and Jamal Musiala, taking him from his current $15 million per year to the $28 million-plus he is reportedly seeking.

There is, however, one issue on which Bayern may be forced to compromise, despite its reluctance to do so: Olise wants a release clause included in any new contract. It would give him a guaranteed exit route even if he commits his future to the club. His insistence on the provision suggests that remaining in Munich is a very real possibility, but only if he can keep an ace up his sleeve should he ever decide to move on. In Germany, release clauses are uncommon unless they are specifically written into a contract, which is precisely what Olise and his representatives are pushing for.

In recent years, several Bundesliga clubs have agreed to extensions featuring release clauses, including RB Leipzig’s deals with Josko Gvardiol and Dani Olmo. Others, such as Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund, even had exit figures built into their original contracts. Bayern has traditionally been far more resistant to that approach, but first with Kane, then Musiala, and now Olise, the club appears to have little choice but to adapt. The challenge will be agreeing on a number that satisfies both sides. Bayern is reportedly aiming for a clause worth €200 million ($225 million), while Olise would prefer it to be set significantly lower.

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