Not Mbappe, the 50 million Frenchman Jurgen Klopp wants to sign to replace Mohamed Salah

Liverpool have set their sights on Crystal Palace's promising 22-year-old attacker Michael Olise, according to a report from Football Insider. The Reds are keeping an eye on the player's development in the Premier League, where he has shone brightly. But they are not alone in this pursuit, as Chelsea have also shown interest in the youngster for months.

Michael Olise's rise has been meteoric since his arrival at Crystal Palace in July 2021 from Reading. With a background as an apprentice in Chelsea and Manchester City's prestigious youth divisions, Olise has had the option of representing England or France internationally, choosing the latter option by becoming a French Under-21 international last year.

On the pitch, Olise has become a key player for Crystal Palace over the past two and a half years. Despite a difficult campaign for the Eagles in the 2023/24 season, the youngster has excelled with five goals and one assist in nine appearances. This performance has not gone unnoticed, attracting interest from both Chelsea and Manchester City in the previous transfer window.

Liverpool sent their scouts to watch Olise in action during a recent Premier League clash against Brentford. This interest comes as no surprise, especially given the uncertainty of Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield. Liverpool are looking for a long-term replacement and see Olise as a promising candidate. And Klopp wants the Frenchman.

Olise before Mbappe

However, Liverpool are not alone in this battle. Despite the personal terms agreed with Olise last summer, Chelsea still maintain their interest in the young talent. Competition between these two Premier League giants could be intense, with Crystal Palace likely to demand a sizeable premium given the length of Olise's contract. Its value would be 50 million.