The recent performances of Michael Olise have made headlines as he continues to shine for FC Bayern Munich. After equalizing against VfB Stuttgart, Olise showcased his cool demeanor, breathing deeply after scoring and sealing his impressive return after struggles prior to the winter break. The 23-year-old winger netted three goals and provided one assist during February 2025 alone, making him one of the standout players of the month.
Olise's resurgence has been welcomed at the club, particularly as Bayern gears up for significant clashes such as the Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. His scoring capabilities were evident as he not only showcased his finishing against Stuttgart but also found the net against Eintracht Frankfurt and Celtic Glasgow. With his reformed strategy, it seems Olise has leaped back onto the radar as one of Bayern's key weaponry needed to navigate through high-stakes tournaments.
His preparation for the season faced setbacks due to the Olympic games, which delayed his summer training. Nevertheless, he made significant contributions once back on the pitch, achieving ten scoring points early on the season. His statistics reveal he has created the most big chances not just at Bayern but across the top five European leagues — sharing the top spot with other notable players such as Pascal Groß and Rayan Cherki.
Former French international and coaching icon Thierry Henry recently lavished praise on Olise, noting: “Michael (Olise) is a real football player. He will always try to do what the game requires for the team. He presses well. He has a good eye for passes. He can also obviously score goals...” This endorsement shows the regard Henry has for Olise, particularly after working with him during the Olympics.
Olise's impact extends beyond just scoring. Against Stuttgart, he proved his worth defensively as well, making pivotal interventions at key moments — including preventing what would have been a clear chance for Stuttgart’s attackers with a well-timed tackle. His all-round gameplay signifies why he is viewed as not just another player, but rather as someone who can potentially emerge as the match-winner against Bayer Leverkusen.
On another front, FC Bayern is reportedly eyeing fellow Bundesliga star Florian Wirtz, with club legends Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge openly expressing their desire to secure the young forward’s services. Recent reports suggest Wirtz himself is also open to making the move to Munich, as he is viewed as the ideal addition to Bayern’s attacking lineup.
Florian Plettenberg, transfer insider, revealed on Sport1’s “Doppelpass” show, “We have the info, Florian wants to go to Bayern, and he sees this as part of his career plan: first Bayern, then abroad. Whether this can be realized, I don’t know.” This adds layers of intrigue as Bayern attempts to finalize the deal, though discussions remain in the early stages with optimism of securing Wirtz below his market value of €140 million.
A transfer this summer, though popular among Bayern’s top brass, is still uncertain. Speculations circulated around whether Wirtz would be open to extending his contract with Bayer, which currently runs until 2027. While Bayern hopes for flexibility with either lowered expectations or perhaps the addition of an exit clause, Plettenberg remains cautious: “I believe it will not happen this year.”
Hoeneß seems particularly invested, seeing Wirtz’s recruitment as “a personal mission” for him, indicating the high expectations Bayern has toward acquiring new talent to continue their superiority, both domestically and internationally.
The urgency behind signing Wirtz has also been fueled by the apparent withdrawal of the contract offer for Joshua Kimmich, as implied by football pundit Lothar Matthäus. Matthäus connects this development with Bayern’s ambition to secure Wirtz, emphasizing how the dynamics of team strategy must adapt based on player movements and contract discussions.
This whirlwind of activity around Olise and potential new signings depicts not just the strategy of FC Bayern, but the competitive spirit dominating the Bundesliga as elite clubs maneuver and position themselves for future triumphs. With Champions League fixtures approaching, the spotlight will be on Olise as he aims to play the decisive role against Leverkusen, and fans will be eagerly watching how the Wirtz saga evolves.