Here is a roundup of the top Liverpool news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Michael Olise, Nico Williams and Rodrygo that you guys may have missed…
Liverpool legend Vladimir Smicer has urged the club to pursue a move for Michael Olise, as the Reds intensify their search for a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.
With Salah confirming he will leave Anfield at the end of the current season, LIVERPOOL are preparing for a major attacking rebuild after nearly a decade defined by the Egyptian’s goals and consistency.
Smicer, a Champions League winner with the club, believes Olise fits the profile required to usher in a new era. The Bayern Munich winger has enjoyed a standout campaign in Germany, contributing heavily in goals and assists since his 2024 move from Crystal Palace.
“We’ve seen LIVERPOOL struggling on the flanks, with the wingers,” Smicer said while speaking to BetVictor, who offer the latest World Cup betting. “We lost Luis Diaz, and Mo Salah is not at his usual standard this season.
‘We need a good winger, especially now we know that Mo Salah is leaving. Michael Olise is the name that I like, he’s a very good young player, he’s 24, he has experience in the Premier League, he knows the league, that’s so important. He’s playing really well for Bayern Munich, it’s going to be tough to find an agreement with them, we know that. But Olise at Liverpool would be very special.”
“We had so many good players at this club that we could have a lot of statues around the city,” Smicer noted. “Of course, Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah, these two guys, were leaders, were top-class players, world-class players, and they are special.
‘”It’s difficult to compare them, but of course, there is the legacy of Stevie G. He’s been a local lad, played his whole career for Liverpool. He definitely had chances to leave, but he always stayed.”
Why Bayern Munich won’t let Olise leave
From Bayern’s perspective, selling Olise now would make little strategic sense. First, he represents a long-term investment—signed on a deal reportedly running until 2029, giving the German giants strong control over his future.
Second, his performances have already elevated him into a key attacking figure. With elite output in both goals and assists and decisive contributions in major matches, Bayern view him not as a replaceable asset but as a cornerstone of their next generation.
There is also the financial reality: Bayern are under no pressure to sell. Unlike clubs that rely on transfer income, they can afford to reject offers unless they are extraordinary. Reports already suggest the club has no intention of entertaining bids, effectively closing the door on suitors for now
Liverpool pushing for Nico Williams
Liverpool are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams as a replacement for Mohamed Salah ahead of the summer transfer window.
Reports from Spain claim the Premier League club are exploring a move for the Spain international as they prepare for a possible squad rebuild in attack. Salah, a key figure at Anfield for nearly a decade, has been linked with a potential departure at the end of the season amid speculation over declining form and interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
*LIVERPOOL*’s recruitment team is understood to be evaluating several wide forwards capable of filling the void left by the Egyptian star. Among the names frequently linked with a move to Merseyside is Williams, one of La Liga’s most exciting young attackers.
The Spaniard has developed into a standout performer for Athletic Bilbao, combining pace and direct dribbling with growing productivity in front of goal. A product of the Basque club’s academy, Williams has made over 150 senior appearances since his breakthrough and has also become a regular for the Spanish national team.
However, any move for the winger would likely require a significant financial commitment. Williams recently signed a long-term contract extension at Bilbao that reportedly includes a release clause worth around €90 million, reflecting the club’s determination to keep one of their prized talents.
LIVERPOOL are not alone in their interest. Several top European clubs have been linked with the winger in recent seasons, meaning the Reds could face strong competition should they attempt to activate the clause this summer.
Would Nico Williams be a good signing?
If LIVERPOOL are indeed preparing for the post-Salah era, Nico Williams would represent a logical long-term replacement. At just 23, he already combines elite pace, direct dribbling and the ability to stretch defensive lines — traits that suit the high-intensity style Liverpool have traditionally employed.
One of his biggest strengths is unpredictability. Williams thrives in one-v-one situations and can attack either flank, making him tactically flexible in modern attacking systems. His assist numbers in recent seasons highlight an improving end product, which is crucial for any winger expected to replace Salah’s output.
However, the challenge is expectation. Salah’s numbers at LIVERPOOL have been extraordinary for years, and replacing that level of production with a young player still developing his scoring instincts is a major gamble. Williams is more of a creative winger than a prolific goal-scorer at this stage of his career.
Ultimately, though, Liverpool should be thinking about evolution rather than direct replacement. If the club want a dynamic, modern wide forward who could grow into a superstar at Anfield, Williams looks like a strong candidate.
Liverpool plan big swap deal
Fresh reports have claimed Liverpool and Real Madrid are reportedly exploring a sensational swap deal this summer that would see Dominik Szoboszlai move to the Santiago Bernabéu in exchange for Brazilian winger Rodrygo, according to icfootballnews sources.
The deal, described in Spanish media as a “bombshell” proposal, could mark one of the most headline-grabbing transactions of the 2026 summer transfer window if the two European powerhouses can agree on the details.
The concept revolves around Real Madrid paying part of Szoboszlai’s value — widely estimated around £100 million — plus the versatile, attack-minded Rodrygo Goes for *LIVERPOOL*’s midfield fulcrum.
Real Madrid’s interest in Szoboszlai has been a recurring theme this season, with sources indicating the Spanish giants admire the Hungarian’s creativity and box-to-box influence. Rumours suggest Los Blancos view him as the kind of dynamic midfielder capable of boosting their attacking link-play and adding goals from midfield.
For Liverpool, the lure of Rodrygo — a Brazilian international capable of playing across both wings with speed, directness and an eye for goal — fits a pressing need to reinforce wide attacking options following departures and injury concerns. But while the idea has generated buzz, multiple factors make the proposal complicated.
Key practical obstacles remain. Szoboszlai has been one of Liverpool’s standout performers this season and is contracted until 2028; sources close to the club have said there are no plans to part with him, with contract talks reportedly ongoing that underscore Liverpool’s intent to keep the midfielder integral to their future.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, would have to reconcile Rodrygo’s valuation and insist on significant compensation beyond a straight player exchange. The Brazilian’s wage demands and Madrid’s own squad balance considerations could also complicate matters.
Could it happen?
In theory, high-profile swap deals are not unprecedented in football, but they require perfect alignment on valuation, player willingness and strategic fit. Szoboszlai is contracted long-term and viewed as a lynchpin at Anfield; convincing LIVERPOOL to surrender him — even for a talent of Rodrygo’s calibre — would likely demand additional cash or collateral.
Similarly, Real Madrid must be certain they want Szoboszlai enough to part with a home-grown star like Rodrygo. Pragmatically, while the rumour adds flavour to the summer window, most analysts regard the deal as unlikely to materialise in its current form, with both clubs more inclined to pursue separate, conventional transfers rather than an outright swap
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