Advertisement

Liverpool 'could pay $65m release clause' for playmaker who would continue Jürgen Klopp pattern

Dani Olmo of RB Leipzig celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg at Red Bull Arena on April 13, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.
RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo -Credit:Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images


Liverpool deserves tremendous credit for what it has achieved this season. While it has fallen agonizingly short in the Premier League and Europa League, having come close to winning both with an almost entirely rebuilt midfield should not be underestimated.

The Reds have frequently started games with some combination of Wataru Endō, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, four players who were not at the club last season. With no prior shared playing history to call upon, they have had to form relationships immediately.

They have settled well, alongside Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. All will be at the club next season, and while one midfielder who missed almost all of 2023/24 through injury will leave (Thiago Alcântara), another will return to continue his development (Stefan Bajčetić). The Reds are inevitably linked with further signings in midfield, though, and they look set to face competition from three other members of the Premier League’s big six for one reported target.

READ MORE: Liverpool should hijack 'aggressive' Arsenal transfer move for $64m 'new Sergio Busquets'

READ MORE: 'Arne Slot is like a God to us and he’s already said emotional goodbye before Liverpool move'

RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo is rumored to be leaving the Bundesliga club at the end of this season. Spanish outlet SPORT has claimed Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United along with Liverpool are potential destinations for the 26-year-old. He supposedly has a $65m (£52m/€60m) release clause in his contract and it would repeat a familiar pattern if the Reds did do a deal with the Bundesliga side having bought Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konaté and more from Leipzig.

Olmo started both legs of the Reds’ Champions League round of 16 tie with RB Leipzig in 2020/21, which was held entirely at the Puskás Aréna in Hungary thanks to Covid restrictions. Liverpool won both matches 2-0, each game seeing goals from Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah.

With 33 appearances and eight goals for Spain, Olmo is likely to be in action at Euro 2024 this season. A combination of knee and shoulder injuries earlier this season meant he missed the majority of the qualifying campaign, but he returned to score in a 3-3 friendly draw with Brazil in March.

At club level, he has scored eight goals and set up five in 25 appearances this season. On a per 90 minutes basis, this makes 2023/24 the second-best campaign of Olmo's five with RB Leipzig for pro rata goal contributions.

FBRef’s list of his 10 most statistically similar players includes Eberechi Eze, Bruno Fernandes, James Maddison and Cole Palmer. It’s no surprise an attacking midfielder with that pedigree is drawing interest from multiple Premier League clubs, though whether Liverpool is genuinely among them remains to be seen.

Liverpool.com says: Olmo is talented but we hit a regular buffer for transfer rumors when they relate to Liverpool, in that he has three years remaining on his contract. A supposed release clause negates that to some extent, though it doesn't feel like an attacking midfielder would be high on the list of the Reds' priorities this summer. The change of manager might change their needs though.