Owen Hargreaves Recommends Michael Olise as Salah’s Successor for Liverpool
Former England international Owen Hargreaves has suggested that Liverpool should aim to sign Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise as a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah. With Salah officially announcing his exit at the season’s end, Liverpool’s management is now under pressure to find a suitable successor.
Hargreaves expressed his views on TNT Sports, asserting that the club needs to avoid risks associated with untested talent and should instead target a player like Olise, who has already demonstrated his capability at the highest levels of European competition.
Hargreaves’ Strong Support for Olise
Hargreaves strongly endorsed Olise, stating that the French player possesses the “box office” qualities necessary to excel at Liverpool. He remarked, “If you are Liverpool, you have got to go ready. Tried and tested. For me, that would be Olise. Somebody of that calibre. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Continuing, he added, “I wouldn’t want to see him leave Bayern because that front three is amazing. But if you are talking about Olise on that right-hand side for Liverpool, that is box office.”
“You have to buy someone who is box office, or you’re not replacing him,” Hargreaves emphasized.
Michael Olise’s Impressive Performance at Bayern Munich
Since joining Bayern Munich, Olise has been outstanding. In the ongoing 2025/26 Bundesliga season, he has accumulated an impressive 11 goals and 19 assists across just 25 appearances, leading to a total of 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 matches in all competitions this season.
His dual ability to score and set up goals has elevated his status among Europe’s top players, with some estimates putting his market value near €200 million (£170 million).
Comparison: Michael Olise vs. Mohamed Salah
To grasp Hargreaves’ confidence in Olise, a comparison with Salah’s performance at the same age is insightful. In the 2016/17 season, when Salah was 24 and playing for AS Roma, he netted 15 goals and provided 13 assists in 31 Serie A appearances. In contrast, Olise is currently exceeding those numbers while playing for a dominant Bayern Munich squad.
| Player | Club | Games | Goals | Assists | Total G+A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | AS Roma | 41 | 19 | 14 | 33 |
| Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | 50 (to date) | 20 | 23 | 43 |
Olise’s record includes 30 direct goal contributions in only 25 league matches so far this season, indicating he is becoming a more prolific playmaker than Salah at a similar point in his career. While Salah transformed into a relentless goal scorer at Anfield, Olise’s current trajectory suggests he is already a more comprehensive attacking threat.
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