---
title: "Liverpool dealt huge blow in race to sign 2026 Ballon d’Or candidate"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-dealt-huge-blow-in-race-to-sign-2026-ballon-dor-candidate/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2026-10-16T09:37:56Z"
modified: "2026-10-16T09:37:57Z"
---

# Liverpool dealt huge blow in race to sign 2026 Ballon d’Or candidate

**Liverpool are expected to be in the market for further reinforcements despite signing four players in the summer.**

The Reds didn’t sign an out-and-out replacement for Mohamed Salah, instead opting to draft in Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola.

In the summer, however, they made an offer to sign Yankuba Minteh from Brighton, although they didn’t manage to get the deal over the line.

[Liverpool’s interest in Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise is well documented](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/liverpools-perfect-mohamed-salah-successor-told-he-could-leave-in-2027/) and it goes without saying that he would be their dream right-wing target.

And now, German journalist Christian Falk has suggested that he would prefer a move to Spain amid interest from Real Madrid.

## Liverpool target Michael Olise prefers to move to Spain

Falk confirmed in his [CF Bayern Insider](https://cfbayerninsider.com/2026/10/the-bayern-insider-arsenal-lurking-for-munich-starter-as-pavlovic-opens-up-on-man-city/) column that while a return to the Premier League isn’t impossible for Olise, he would only consider swapping Bayern for Real Madrid at this point.

“Michael Olise prefers the possibility of a move to Spain,” wrote Falk.

“I don’t think a return to the Premier League is impossible. He played for Crystal Palace and there are other clubs that would be very interesting for him. However, it is Real Madrid that he is excited about and Real Madrid are excited about him.

“There were many articles in Spain covering the topic this week. El Nacional claimed that Olise is no longer a topic in the Spanish capital, as Real are focusing on Erling Haaland if Manchester City are forced to sell players pending the outcome of an appeal against their 114 charges of alleged financial misconduct.

> Michael Olise will sign for Nike. An agreement has been sealed \[[@Footy\_Headlines](https://x.com/Footy_Headlines?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\] [pic.twitter.com/XuBZ2i9Xxx](https://t.co/XuBZ2i9Xxx)
>
> — Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) [October 15, 2026](https://x.com/iMiaSanMia/status/2110844507830780070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“AS, who I think are much closer to the club, said that Michael Olise is still the top target. They will try and they will wait until Bayern Munich make a move. If FC Bayern can give the French international a new contract, then they’re out.

“But they want to push to sign the player and hope that he won’t extend his terms at the Allianz Arena.”

Liverpool have lost out on a handful of world-class players to Real Madrid over the years, like Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, while the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate have swapped Anfield for the Bernabeu.

And judging by the reporting, Olise looks like the next name on that list…

​