The Bayern Insider: Michael Olise ‘wants Real Madrid’ as Bradley Barcola transfer hijack stance clear | OneFootball

Welcome to today’s exclusive & comprehensive round-up of all things Bayern Munich from Bayern insider Christian Falk. Featuring updates on Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Givairo Read, and Jamal Musiala.

Today’s top stories

There are not only young players present on the pitch for FC Bayern at this early stage of pre-season, although there are not a lot of players present, we have to say. So, they have to bring in some young players to ensure they have a squad. And there are a few other players there who you wouldn’t have expected to still be at the club, like João Palhinha. The Portuguese international is back in Munich, and he’s not the only one! There are a few players Bayern Munich would like to sell who are still hanging around.

The first performance tests have already taken place at Säbener Straße this week. Next week, it’s a tradition for the team to be at the Tegernsee. This was the same place that Franz Beckenbauer used to train at before the start of a new season, so it’s a very special place, a spiritual place, if you will, for Bayern Munich. And it’s also the home of Uli Hoeneß, the godfather of Bayern Munich, and current goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

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Michael Olise and the Real Madrid dream

✅ It is TRUE: Michael Olise told his French national teammates that he would like to join Real Madrid at some stage, but he’s unlikely to force an exit from Bayern Munich this summer. I think it’s okay. Everyone is allowed to dream about a transfer to Real Madrid and wearing the famous white jersey. But Olise also knows that Bayern have a contract with him until 2029, and the club have made it absolutely clear that he’s not for sale this summer. There have been no talks between FC Bayern and their right winger about this topic at the time of writing. Neither the Frenchman nor his agent have knocked on the door, but there have been talks, as we already know, between the two club presidents, Herbert Hainer and Florentino Pérez. After these talks, I think Real Madrid recognised that there isn’t an opportunity to sign Michael Olise in the current transfer window. I’m not sure if this will be the absolute last word on this point. It could be hot right at the end of the summer window. Real Madrid do like to do a late deal, while Bayern tends to go early with their business. But then that’s also a sign that this just won’t work, as FC Bayern wouldn’t be able to sign a replacement for Olise anyway.

I think the big question now for Bayern Munich and Michael Olise is whether the Frenchman will sign a new contract in Bavaria. That’s because, if not, the club will have the big problem of replacing him next summer. This summer, I think it will be a big problem. But if Bayern decides the Frenchman has to be sold next summer, say for €200m-250m or so (no offer on the table yet), then they have something to discuss.

Could Bradley Barcola be a potential Olise successor?

✅ It is TRUE: Bradley Barcola is one of the names on the shortlist at Bayern Munich if they have to replace Michael Olise. I reported last summer that there was an idea to sign the France international anyway. Even the summer before, the 23-year-old was considered a very interesting player for FC Bayern. He’s on the shortlist, but at the moment there is no chance of getting this player for the club. That’s because PSG want to give the winger a new contract, and amounts in the region of €150m have been floated if the Ligue 1 champions were to sell the player. However, when you look at the situation – and, as we say, Bayern don’t want to sell Olise this summer – the club has to think about the Frenchman’s situation if he doesn’t sign a contract with Bayern.

When you look at Bradley Barcola’s contract, you see he’s got a year less left on his terms compared to his international teammate (running out in 2028). So, if he isn’t sold this summer to Liverpool, who are clearly interested, or to another club that can afford the asking price, and he’s still on the market – and assuming that Bayern are forced to sell Michael Olise – with one year left on his contract next summer, then PSG have a decision to make. I personally think he’s a player who would fit in perfectly at Bayern Munich. That’s also partly due to his affordable salary demands (currently earning €7m-8m gross in Paris, which is half of what Olise earns at Bayern). So, he’s one to keep an eye out for as a potential replacement in case Michael Olise leaves.

Could Jamal Musiala go on loan to Galatasaray?

❌ It is NOT TRUE: Jamal Musiala has been offered on loan to Galatasaray. I knocked on the door at Musiala’s camp, and they said, Are you joking? There is no idea to give the Germany international away on loan to any club in world football. He’s still an important part of Bayern Munich, and everyone likes the fact he’s back on the pitch. We reported previously that the 23-year-old used the break (as Germany were knocked out of the World Cup early) to get a new operation to remove the metal plate in his foot (placed after his initial operation). We think that he’ll be back on the training pitch by the end of July. Then, he’ll wear the Bayern Munich jersey and no other!

Did Liverpool beat Bayern Munich to Samuel Martínez?

I heard the rumours of Bayern Munich’s interest in now Liverpool midfielder Samuel Martínez. I can say that the Colombian’s name wasn’t particularly hot at FC Bayern. The club knows the player and, of course, has had good experiences with Colombian players at the Allianz Arena, as you’ll know if you’re a Liverpool fan! But to be honest, it was more concrete with Borussia Dortmund. They were in talks with the player’s side and there was even a rumour about a verbal agreement having been secured with the player’s camp. So, they were certainly ahead of Bayern Munich on this transfer. We’ll have to see how Martínez gets on at Liverpool.

Konrad Laimer agrees Bayern contract extension

This is a big story that has taken place over a number of months. You have to remember that Bayern Munich had their important Champions League clash with PSG, and around that time Uli Hoeneß gave an interview in which he said – and he was a bit angry at the time because there shouldn’t have been such high demands for a new contract – that Konrad Laimer shouldn’t forget he’s not Maradona! I think it’s okay to say that no one is like Maradona, other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo perhaps. But certainly no Bayern player! But of course, it’s not nice if you hear something like this. I heard that Hoeneß made contact with the player, and there should have been a meeting also at his home in the Tegernsee. It was made clear that Bayern want to keep the relationship with Laimer going – but not for the amount his team was demanding. Both sides came to an agreement, and I heard the contract was signed during the World Cup. However, the decision itself was made before the tournament.

Only one more signing for Bayern this summer

✅ It is TRUE: Bayern Munich will only sanction one more signing this summer if they manage to complete enough sales. Bayern are happy with their squad, but they have to sell players. So there is a bit of pressure on Max Eberl at the moment. The club spent €110m on Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown – which is a lot of money for two players. So now Bayern have to bring in some funds. They had once hoped the likes of Bryan Zaragoza, Sacha Boey and João Palhinha might bring in roughly €100m all in all, but that won’t happen, and they know now there is no such market for these players. But if they make a transfer like Boey (€15m, I heard, will be enough for this player) or Palhinha (they still need to find a solution here), then they can go for a right-back. That, I believe, is the idea at the moment.

There is also Min-jae Kim. Bayern are fine if he stays, but if he does leave, then a new centre-back would be possible. However, at the moment, the focus is really on Palhinha, as he currently has the biggest market. Aston Villa are still interested, so keep a close eye on the Premier League! Villa are one of the clubs that could pay for him, as some of the other clubs, like Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, are keen to get a loan deal for the player. Bayern, however, want to sell right now this summer.

Givairo Read is still on the market. We know there is interest from the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest having submitted (and been rebuffed on) a first bid. We have to see what happens and which players are still on the market when, and if, Bayern can do something. But, yes, he’s one of the players who are very interesting for Bayern Munich. Bayern were early in talks with Read and his camp. But there’s no money for this deal without a sale.

Noël Aséko is an Eintracht Frankfurt player

I heard that Bayern Munich received €12m from Frankfurt for Noël Aséko. He was a player who was very interesting for Vincent Kompany, and the Belgian head coach had wanted to see him in the squad for the summer and then make a decision later about whether he should be sold or play a role in the upcoming campaign. But now, there came an offer, and Bayern knew that Frankfurt had a bit of money, as they’d paid over €50m for Nathaniel Brown! There were negotiations, but as we reported, Hannover had Aséko on loan last term, and they had to pay €1m for the loan deal. That said, they could also exercise a buy option, and so Bayern Munich had to buy him back for €2.5m. In the end, there was no option to include a buy-back clause in the deal taking him to Frankfurt, as Frankfurt made it clear they wanted to keep the player’s rights in totality at a €12m price point.

Javi Fernández’s future at FC Bayern

Bayern believe in Javi Fernández’s potential, which is why they made a second loan to FC Nürnberg. He’s doing well, but not so well that Bayern can count on him in the first-team squad this season. He started five games in the second half of Nürnberg’s Bundesliga 2 campaign in 2025/26, so there is still space to improve and develop. That’s good for him and other players at the Campus that is so hard to break into the Bayern midfield – it’s a challenge! So, a very good decision for both sides; a win-win situation. He can learn more and practice on the pitch under an experienced coach in Miroslav Klose (the former top scorer at the World Cup). He knows everything about football, and I think Fernández can learn a lot from the ex-Germany international.