Eintracht Frankfurt wanted FC Bayern’s shooting star

Michael Olise is enchanting the Bundesliga in the FC Bayern jersey. But apparently the attacker could also have ended up at Eintracht Frankfurt. SGE had the 22-year-old on their list years ago.

In the past, Eintracht Frankfurt has shown great interest in signing Bayern Munich's shooting star Michael Olise. SGE sports director Markus Krösche has now announced this.

“We looked at him three years ago,” said the Frankfurt manager on the “Sky 90” program. At the time, Olise was still under contract with English second division club Reading FC.

At the same time, Krösche explained why a transfer to the Bundesliga did not happen. Ultimately, it was down to money: “He had a promotion clause at the time. I think it was eight or nine million. But we didn't have the money to pay that at the time. He is a very, very good player.”

FC Bayern pays millions for Olise

Bitter from Eintracht's point of view: How much the winger is now worth is shown by the transfer fee that FC Bayern spent this summer to lure him away from Premier League club Crystal Palace. The Londoners had the money for the promotion clause ready in 2021, and now the German record champions have invested 53 million euros as a fixed sum. The amount can increase to 59 million euros through bonus payments.

Krösche confirmed in the broadcast that Eintracht Frankfurt simply “could not pay” the transfer fee for Olise at that time.

Michael Olise has fought his way into a regular place in the Bayern squad under new head coach Vincent Kompany at the start of the season. The fast and strong dribbling right winger made an impressive comeback with five goals and three assists in his first six competitive matches. In the 5-0 win in Bremen, he scored two goals and provided two assists.