Young, gifted, highly ambitious and overflowing with potential, Michael Olise had the look of a classic Michael Edwards signing for Liverpool.
Since being promoted to the role of sporting director in 2016, Edwards has been credited with snapping up Andy Robertson, Sadio Mane, Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott and more. He’s earned almost messianic status on Merseyside during a period of success unseen at Anfield since the glory days of the 1980s.
But as Premier League rivals Crystal Palace close in on the signing of Reading wonderkid Olise – triggering the £8 million release clause in his contract – some Liverpool supporters are querying why their club aren’t in on the action.
Teenager Olise had been linked incessantly with a move to the 2019 Champions League winners last season.
According to 90Min, Liverpool went so far as to register their interest in a man whose glorious set-pieces and defence-splitting through balls dragged an unfancied Reading side into play-off contention against the odds.
But an offer never arrived. Why is anyone’s guess?
Perhaps Liverpool were distracted by their pursuit of a Gini Wijnaldum replacement, with the club seemingly prioritising a more experienced option a la Nicolo Barella, Yves Bissouma or Otavio.
How did Liverpool miss out on Olise?
But while each of that trio would cost somewhere in the region of £40 million, it’s tempting to wonder how much Olise would cost after just a few short months under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, a coach who turned Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski into world-beaters.
Olise may not be the finished article but, it must be said, neither was Mo Salah, Mane or Robertson when they arrived at Anfield.
And while it would be unfair to suggest Liverpool have forgotten what made them great – Ibrahima Konate is a signing with Edwards’ fingerprints all over it – missing out on a hugely talented youngster you’ve been tracking for almost a year to a top-flight rival doesn’t exactly send the right message.
Here’s what some Liverpool supporters on Twitter had to say about the situation:
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