Arsenal wants Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise; Lennart Karl won’t hide; Bayern prospect draws raves; FC Barcelona wants Nico Schlotterbeck; and MORE!

Gunners want Olise (TEAMtalk)

It is not hard to find reasons to like Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.

The talented former Crystal Palace attacker has acclimated himself nicely in Bavaria and developed into a dynamic and consistent threat to the oppositions. Never one to ignore a budding star, Arsenal is interested in the 23-year-old:

Arsenal have quietly placed Michael Olise at the very top of their long-term attacking wish list, with sources confirming the club are laying the groundwork for a blockbuster £100 million-plus move in the summer of 2026.

Bayern have zero intention of entertaining January approaches, even if Arsenal’s need for creativity is laid bare by Bukayo Saka’s recent injuries and Gabriel Martinelli’s inconsistent form. Olise’s camp are aware of the interest. The former Reading academy star turned down Chelsea in 2024 partly because he wanted guaranteed minutes; Bayern delivered Champions League football and a platform that has seen him terrorise defences with trademark cuts inside and venomous left-foot strikes.

Sources close to the player insist he is “happy and settled” in Bavaria but would listen seriously to Arsenal if a concrete path opened in 18 months’ time. A life in London is attractive to the French superstar.

Bayern Munich execs have zero plans of selling Olise and, in fact, seem pretty eager to lock him up to a longer deal. If Arsenal wants the Frenchman, it will likely have to wait and will also have to get in line, as several other clubs are also said to be fans of the right-wing.

Barca could be ready to make move for Schlotterbeck (ESPN)

FC Barcelona has a connection with Borussia Dortmund center-back Nico Schlotterbeck, who is reportedly contemplating leaving BVB in the summer of 2026. With Dortmund potentially unwilling to sell Schlotterbeck to league rival Bayern Munich, the defender might have to make the move to Catalonia if he truly wants out next summer:

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is keen to reunite with Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, having given him his debut for the Germany national team, according to Mundo Deportivo. Schlotterbeck, 26, has so far decided against extending his contract at Dortmund, which is due to expire in 2027, meaning he is likely to leave the club next summer. Bayern Munich are keen on signing him, but Dortmund are unwilling to let him go to their league rivals. That leaves Barcelona and Real Madrid as favorites to make a move, though Liverpool are also reported to be interested.

If Schlotterbeck is willing to wait a year (it seems questionable), he could move to Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2027, but he could risk the Bavarians signing other players over top of him in the meantime.

Clearly, it is a difficult spot for the German international and this is definitely giving off the vibes of what happened with VfB Stuttgart and Nick Woltemade last summer.

Karl won’t hide from the media (Sport Bild’s Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl via @iMiaSanMia)

Bayern Munich phenom Lennart Karl is being delicately managed by both the club and his representatives. No one wants to mess with the incredible progress that the youngster is making.

However, that does not mean that anyone is going to protect him so much that he will not interact with the media. In fact, it is quite the opposite — everyone wants to give Karl the exposure to dealing with the press at a young age so he can grow into dealing with stardom:

Both Bayern and Lennart Karl’s management want to make sure the player doesn’t hide from the media. Just like the established players, Karl is encouraged to show up in front of the cameras and answer reporters’ questions after games in order to learn and further develop his personality.

This is a very savvy move for everyone involved. Sure, there is a chance that Karl puts his foot in his mouth eventually, but better now to learn these lessons, so he can evolve into a leader at some point in the future.

Atléti in on Guéhi pursuit (ESPN)

Atlético de Madrid will be another team competing for the signature of Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guéhi:

Matteo Moretto has told Radio Marca that Atletico Madrid are one of the clubs looking to sign Crystal Palace center back Marc Guéhi as a free agent in the summer. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and a handful of Premier League clubs (including Liverpool), are looking at the 25-year-old, while Calciomercato has also mentioned Internazionale as a possible destination. Although the Italian side are also keen on Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, Udinese’s Oumar Solet and Lazio’s Mario Gila.

Bayern Munich’s intertest in Guéhi could be affected by what happens with both Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. In addition to Guéhi, Bayern Munich is also rumored to have interest in Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.

Aséko Nkili drawing rave reviews…and interest (Transfermarkt via @iMiaSanMia)

Bayern Munich loanee Noël Aséko Nkili is having a terrific campaign with Hannover 96 and that success is bringing in the interest of other clubs:

Noël Aséko Nkili’s performances with Hannover 96 have attracted the attention of several clubs. Several Bundesliga and Premier League teams are inquiring about his situation. Club Brugge have expressed concrete interest in signing the midfielder next summer. Hannover have an option to buy worth €1m for Aséko. If they activate it, Bayern can buy him back for €2.5m. Sources close to the player indicate that he’s closely monitoring developments at his parent club and eagerly awaiting a signal from Bayern regarding his future.

Aséko Nkili will likely have to look at Bayern Munich midfield situation heading into 2026/27 before making a final decision on his career. The youngster certainly has potential, but could potentially jump at the chance to play first team football immediately with a team like Club Brugge rather than wait things out at Bayern Munich.

Clearly, the 20-year-old will have some thinking to do.

Benfica wants Kostić (Nicolò Schira)

Benfica could be looking at Filip Kostić for a free transfer in the summer:

Benfica are monitoring #Juventus’ fullback Filip #Kostic. Josè #Mourinho loves him since they were together at Fenerbahce and Benfica had already shown interest in the serbian player last summer. Kostic’s contract with #Juve expires in June 2026. #transfers

Kompany thinks his squad is true UCL contender, but knows it’s a long road (Sky Germany via @iMiaSanMia)

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany believes in his team, but know that it would be a tough way to live if everything hinged on winning the Champions League.

“I also said last season that we can compete for the title. And if I’m here for another ten years, I’ll repeat that for another ten years. That’s the foundation for a Bayern coach, there’s no need to beat around the bush. We want to win every competition we compete in. And the reality is that the Champions League is very difficult to win. We’re not thinking that far ahead,” said Kompany. “Of course, the title is a dream. But we’re taking it seriously, step by step, and will do everything we can to achieve our goals. That’s what I’ve learned here. Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller – they felt like they played here for 20 years and won the Champions League twice in that time. That’s incredible. But that still means they haven’t made it 18 times. In the end, we just can’t feel like we haven’t done enough. And that starts with absolute focus now.”

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…