Manchester United are reportedly preparing a huge transfer approach for Bayern Munich star Michael Olise as Michael Carrick continues his efforts to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours.
The French international has emerged as one of the most exciting attacking players in European football, and United are understood to be monitoring his situation as they consider whether to make a major investment in the forward line.
Olise would represent an enormous statement of intent from Manchester United. The 24-year-old has developed rapidly since leaving Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024, establishing himself as one of the most productive attacking players in Europe. His performances have attracted interest from several elite clubs, with Real Madrid among the sides repeatedly linked with a major move for him.
The prospect of United entering the race would therefore create a fascinating transfer battle. Bayern Munich have publicly maintained that Olise is not for sale, while reports have suggested that Real Madrid have considered a major financial package for the winger. United would consequently need to convince both the player and Bayern that a move to Old Trafford represents an opportunity worth considering.
For Carrick, Olise would be an extremely attractive addition because of his ability to operate from the right wing while also contributing creatively in central attacking areas. His technical quality, dribbling ability and vision would give United another player capable of creating opportunities in tight spaces and changing games with individual moments of brilliance.
Manchester United’s interest would also make sense from a tactical perspective. Carrick wants his team to play with greater technical quality and attacking flexibility, and Olise’s profile fits that ambition. Rather than simply being a traditional winger who stays wide and attempts to beat his full-back, Olise can move inside, combine with midfielders, create chances and deliver dangerous final balls.
That versatility could be extremely valuable at Old Trafford.
United have already invested heavily in rebuilding their squad this summer, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos among the notable arrivals. However, Carrick has made it clear that he wants further additions, particularly because he believes the squad still requires greater depth and quality.
The pursuit of Olise would therefore represent a completely different level of ambition. United have reportedly spent around £85 million so far this summer, while Carrick has acknowledged the club’s financial limitations and ruled out a £100 million signing under the current circumstances.
That makes a potential Olise deal complicated.
If Bayern were willing to consider selling one of their most important players, United would likely have to make an enormous financial commitment. Recent reports have put possible valuations in the region of €130-140 million, while other speculation surrounding Real Madrid has suggested packages potentially approaching €200 million. These figures underline just how difficult a deal could be.
Nevertheless, Manchester United remain one of the few clubs in world football with the commercial strength and global appeal to potentially compete for a player of Olise’s profile.
The biggest obstacle could be Bayern Munich themselves.
The German giants have repeatedly indicated that they do not want to sell Olise. Bayern have every reason to maintain that position after the Frenchman enjoyed an outstanding campaign. Reports from July claimed that Olise made 57 appearances across all competitions, scoring 25 goals and providing 28 assists, figures that demonstrate how important he has become to the German champions.
Those numbers explain why Bayern would demand an extraordinary fee before even considering his departure.
Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024 after a remarkable final season in England. Bayern secured his services for a reported €55 million, and he quickly demonstrated why the club regarded him as a major investment for the future.
His development since moving to Germany has been impressive.
At Crystal Palace, Olise had already established himself as a dangerous attacking player, but Bayern provided him with a platform to compete regularly at the highest level of European football. Playing alongside world-class players and under the pressure associated with Bayern has helped accelerate his development.
For United, that makes the potential transfer even more attractive.
Carrick would not be signing a player who still needs years to prove himself. He would be attempting to bring in an established international attacker who has already demonstrated that he can produce goals and assists at a European giant.
Olise’s technical qualities would also provide United with something they have sometimes lacked: a player capable of creating danger without needing the entire team to build a move around him.
Imagine Olise receiving possession on the right side, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot and combining with Bruno Fernandes or a central midfielder. His ability to deliver crosses, through balls and shots would give United another dimension in the final third.
He could also create more space for other attackers.
Opposing defenders would have to pay close attention to Olise’s movement, potentially creating opportunities for United’s central striker and players arriving from midfield. That could make the entire attacking structure more difficult to defend.
Another major attraction is his age.
At 24, Olise is entering the prime years of his career but still has considerable room for further development. United’s recruitment strategy would therefore be about both immediate impact and long-term value. If he continued progressing at his current rate, he could potentially become one of the defining players of the next generation.
That is exactly the type of signing United need if they want to move away from short-term solutions.
However, the financial implications cannot be ignored.
Carrick has already admitted that United cannot simply spend unlimited amounts of money. The club are dealing with significant financial pressures, and the manager has indicated that footballing quality must remain the priority rather than simply attempting to compete with rivals through spending.
A huge Olise transfer would therefore require careful financial planning.
United might need player sales, wage restructuring or significant commercial backing to make such a deal possible. The club would also have to consider whether spending an enormous amount on one player would prevent Carrick from strengthening other positions.
That is particularly important because Carrick reportedly wants more than one additional player.
Midfield and left-back remain areas of concern, and adding Olise without addressing those weaknesses could leave the squad unbalanced.
The ideal scenario for Carrick would therefore be to strengthen several positions while adding one elite attacking player.
Olise could be the headline signing, but he should not be the only solution.
There is also the question of whether Olise himself would be interested in Manchester United.
The winger has previously been linked with the club. In 2024, reports suggested United were among the leading contenders for his signature while he was still at Crystal Palace. United’s interest therefore has a history, even though Bayern ultimately won the race for his signature.
The situation is now completely different.
Olise is no longer a developing Premier League prospect. He is a Bayern Munich star and an established France international. If United want him now, they would have to convince him that Old Trafford offers a sporting project capable of matching his ambitions.
That could depend heavily on Carrick’s plans.
If United can demonstrate that they are building a competitive squad around talented young players and experienced leaders, Olise could potentially see the move differently. Carrick’s reputation as a former United player who understands the club could also help.
The manager knows what it means to play for Manchester United.
He understands the expectations, the pressure and the demands that come with representing one of the biggest clubs in world football. If he can persuade Olise that the club are entering a new era, the Frenchman could become one of the centrepieces of that project.
But Bayern will have the final say unless circumstances change dramatically.
The German club have no obvious reason to sell a player who has been one of their most important performers. They are competing for the Bundesliga, Champions League and domestic trophies, and losing Olise would create a major hole in their attacking structure.
That is why any United approach would probably have to be enormous.
A normal offer may not be enough.
United would need to make Bayern question whether keeping the player is worth turning down a potentially record-breaking fee.
This is where the reported interest from Real Madrid becomes important. If Madrid remain seriously interested, Bayern could potentially have competing offers. That would make United’s task even more difficult.
The battle for Olise could therefore become one of the most fascinating stories of the transfer market.
Real Madrid offer the attraction of the Champions League, Spanish football and the opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest stars in the world. Manchester United, meanwhile, can offer the Premier League, enormous global visibility and the chance to become a central figure in a historic club’s rebuilding project.
For Carrick, winning that battle would send a powerful message.
It would tell supporters that United are no longer interested in simply signing players who are available. They would be targeting elite footballers who can transform the quality of the team.
Olise would certainly fit that description.
His arrival would immediately increase competition in the attacking positions and give Carrick more tactical options. He could play as a right winger, operate closer to the striker or move into a central creative role depending on the opposition.
That flexibility would be particularly valuable during a long season.
United will face difficult Premier League fixtures, cup competitions and European challenges. Injuries and suspensions are inevitable, meaning Carrick needs players who can operate in multiple positions without dramatically reducing the team’s quality.
Olise’s versatility could make him one of the most valuable players in the squad.
There would also be an emotional element to the move.
Olise was born in England and came through English football before representing France internationally. A return to the Premier League with Manchester United would therefore bring him back to the country where his professional career began.
But this would not simply be a homecoming.
It would be a statement transfer.
Manchester United would be attempting to bring one of Europe’s most productive young attackers back to England and make him one of the faces of the club’s next generation.
Whether that can happen remains uncertain.
Bayern’s current position is clear: they do not want to sell. Reports have repeatedly emphasized the German club’s determination to keep Olise despite interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Manchester United would therefore have to prepare an extraordinary proposal.
And even then, there is no guarantee Bayern would accept.
For now, the possibility of a huge United move should be treated as a developing transfer story rather than a completed deal. But if Carrick and United’s recruitment team genuinely decide that Olise is their priority target, the coming weeks could become extremely interesting.
The club have already demonstrated that they are willing to reshape the squad, and Carrick has publicly acknowledged that more work is required.
Olise would represent the kind of signing that could change the conversation around United.
Instead of discussing whether the club can compete for a top-four position, supporters would begin asking whether a squad containing Olise, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and other key players could challenge the Premier League’s strongest teams.
That is the level of impact an elite attacker can have.
Manchester United now have a major decision to make. They can continue with a more conservative transfer strategy and address several positions with affordable additions, or they can make a spectacular move for a player like Olise and attempt to bring a genuine world-class attacking talent to Old Trafford.
If the club choose the second option, it could become one of the biggest transfer deals in Manchester United’s recent history.
For Carrick, the opportunity would be enormous. For Olise, it would be a chance to become one of the leading figures in English football once again. And for Manchester United supporters, the possibility of seeing one of Europe’s most exciting attackers wearing the famous red shirt would undoubtedly generate enormous excitement.
The biggest question is whether United can convince Bayern Munich to even open the door.
If they can, the transfer battle for Michael Olise could become one of the defining stories of the summer.