Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise has reportedly informed his France teammates that he wants to leave the Bundesliga champions and join Real Madrid next season.

According to French newspaper L’Équipe on Thursday, the 24-year-old disclosed his desire during the FIFA World Cup, with Real Madrid already aware of his interest and expected to open talks after the tournament despite Bayern’s reluctance to sell.

Olise, who is under contract with Bayern until 2029, is said to be determined to take the next step in his career by moving to the Santiago Bernabéu.

The report added that France and Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano has tried to persuade Olise to remain in Munich.

Bayern president Herbert Hainer, however, recently dismissed speculation linking the winger with a move to the Spanish giants.

“Florentino Pérez can save himself the trouble of making an offer for Olise; we do not want to sell,” Hainer said.

Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace and has quickly established himself as one of the club’s key attacking players.

The report also claimed that Olise’s arrival at Real Madrid could force one of the club’s current stars to leave, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior reportedly among those whose futures could come under scrutiny.

L’Équipe suggested Bellingham’s reported strained relationship with Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius’ unresolved contract renewal have fuelled speculation over possible departures, though neither claim has been confirmed by the clubs involved.

Real Madrid have yet to comment publicly on the reported interest in Olise.

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New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly informed five senior players they are free to leave the club as he begins reshaping his squad less than a week into pre-season training.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola on Thursday, goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, defenders Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, winger Alejandro Garnacho and striker Liam Delap have all been told they can seek moves elsewhere this summer.

The five players are said to have a combined market value of about £160 million.

The Sun reports that Alonso, who took charge of Chelsea this summer, has already hinted that Garnacho could leave amid reported interest from another club.

“We have spoken to the sporting director and there’s interest from him, from another club, so let’s see how it develops.

“I hope it finishes in the best possible way for all parties,” he said in his first press conference.

Garnacho joined Chelsea from Manchester United last summer but endured a difficult debut campaign, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 43 appearances, according to the report.

Delap also struggled to establish himself after his move from Ipswich Town, managing two goals and four assists in 41 games.

Badiashile saw limited action last season, while Disasi fell out of favour before spending the second half of the campaign on loan. Goalkeeper Jorgensen also made only 12 appearances.

Chelsea have already strengthened Alonso’s squad with the arrivals of Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha and Marco Palestra ahead of the new season, while players involved in the FIFA World Cup are expected to rejoin pre-season training in the coming days.

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England manager, Thomas Tuchel, defended his tactics after the Three Lions’ World Cup dream ended in an agonising late defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.

England appeared poised to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon fired them into the lead early in the second half in Atlanta.

But England then invited wave after wave of late pressure from the defending champions and goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez secured a famous 2-1 victory.

Tuchel said his team had become “too passive” after taking the lead at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,” Tuchel told the BBC.

“We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots,” the German coach added.

“We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.”

Tuchel is likely to face serious scrutiny for his substitutions, notably the decision to bring goalscorer Gordon off for defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute.

“I did also offensive substitutions in the last games, we just tried to help the players,” he said.

“We conceded a chance straight away and we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open.

“Straight after our goal, without any substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help.”

Asked later at a press conference whether he believed he got his tactics wrong, former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Tuchel replied: “No, I believe that’s just the nature of the game.

“As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It’s just what it is. No one knows what would have happened if we made different decisions.

“So it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism.”

Asked why England had shied away from a more adventurous approach when leading, Tuchel replied: “Yes, but it doesn’t help if you can’t get the ball. We couldn’t get out.

“Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help.

“We couldn’t win any balls, we couldn’t keep the ball so I think it was not a structural problem, we changed nothing. But the match changed completely.”

Tuchel signed a two-year contract extension in February which lasts through to the 2028 European Championships which England is co-hosting.

Asked if he expected to remain England manager after Wednesday’s defeat, the German indicated he plans to honour his contract that leads up the the 2028 European Championship.

“We keep on going for contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that. Even like now, it’s difficult to look that far ahead,” he said.

AFP

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