The Catalan club could make an interesting decision in the January transfer window.
According to reports from Sky Sports, Bayern Munich are setting the plans in motion for a possible January transfer deal to sign Dani Olmo in anticipation of losing one of their stars next season. The club is worried about the growing interest in Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise and is preparing for other contingencies.
Olmo has emerged as one of those options. In spite of that, the issue is more than deciding if the transfer deal is good for Barcelona. The young player, aged 28 years, has proved to be a vital asset to the team, having joined the team from RB Leipzig during the summer of 2024. This player has been signed by the team as another source of inspiration to Flick’s team, as he is an attacking midfielder/winger/advanced playmaker.
Interestingly enough, there is something behind Bayern’s apparent interest in the Spanish club’s player. Flick, who previously managed Bayern Munich, has already seen firsthand what Olmo can offer. Now his former club could potentially attempt to take one of his Barcelona players back to Germany.
Dani Olmo at Barcelona
Olmo carried quite a bit of pressure coming into Barca, having already shown what a good attacking midfielder he is at RB Leipzig. It did not take long for Olmo to show that he is a very valuable player in Barca's eyes. Even though he has had issues with injuries, Olmo has been an integral part of the club's treble-winning season, scoring 12 goals from 39 games in all competitions, according to the club.
Olmo's contribution has not just been limited to scoring goals. The player adds another asset to the Barcelona squad in terms of having someone who can receive the ball between the lines, combine quickly around the penalty box, and provide chances even when the opponent teams play deep. He has also produced important moments in big matches.
His contribution with a back heel was stressed by Barcelona in an important attack against Real Madrid in the 2025/26 season, while his goal scored against Espanyol made it into the list of goals of the season candidates. This versatility can prove to be quite useful for Barcelona, who will have to play in several leagues.
Olmo with Spain at the 2026 World Cup
Also, one cannot discuss the sale of Olmo without taking into account what happened this summer. This is because Olmo is one of the players who helped build up the Spanish side that eventually clinched the FIFA World Cup Championship of the year 2026 this summer. Thanks to all the praise that he has received thus far, he keeps having a greater effect on the world stage. It should be noted that this summer was especially productive since Olmo played his 50th international game for Spain at the beginning of their World Cup campaign.
FIFA World Cup tournament statistics also show how important Olmo's contribution is in Luis de la Fuente's squad: the midfielder had 305 defensive pressures, the highest among all Spanish players in the tournament. Such numbers are telling in many ways since Olmo is not only an additional creative attacker that Barcelona may count on. Moreover, he can take part in the pressing, play in the midfield, and help connect possession in the middle third of the field and in the final third.
In any case, such achievements in the World Cup strengthened the significance of such a player for Barcelona as a team.
Could Bayern Munich give Olmo a starting role?
This could be where the transfer becomes particularly interesting for Olmo himself. In Barcelona, the race for midfielders to play as forwards is intense. Pedri is still one of the key players in the team, while Fermín López has been trying hard to make his mark on the team. Lamine Yamal plays in another vital forward position, and there are many players in the squad that can play as forwards. This has made Olmo switch between starting and being benched in the early matches of the season.
That could potentially make Bayern attractive. The German club has been made aware of Olmo due to his excellent performances for RB Leipzig, which have established him as one of the best technically gifted attacking players in the Bundesliga. Bayern could give him a bigger part if Musiala or Olise were to depart from the club. Then there is always the advantage of going back home to Germany. Olmo spent four seasons with Leipzig, winning the German Cup and German Super Cup, before signing with Barcelona.
In its profile of the player, Barcelona describes Olmo’s most remarkable performance in the Bundesliga as a hat-trick in the 2023 German Super Cup against Bayern.
What would Barcelona lose by selling Dani Olmo?
Ultimately, that will be the biggest dilemma for Barca. Olmo may not always be considered an undisputed starter in terms of playing time; however, this does not make him any less valuable. The aim of Barcelona is to put together a squad that can contend on various fronts. The skill set of Olmo can also be another strategy in the repertoire of Flick in dealing with problems encountered in difficult matches.
This is because Olmo is a champion of Europe and the world, winning with the Spanish national team the European Championship and the World Cup. This means that Olmo has gained a lot of experience in matches under pressure, which other players from the current Barcelona squad may lack. Barca will also lose a player who knows the club very well. Olmo was a part of the youth set-up of Barcelona and left for Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager before returning as a superstar in Leipzig in order to end up back at Camp Nou in 2024.
Should Barcelona sell Dani Olmo to Bayern Munich?
For Barcelona, the answer should probably depend on the size and structure of any potential offer, and whether Bayern eventually make a serious offer. Barcelona would have to weigh the financial benefits against the sporting consequences. Selling Olmo could provide significant funds and potentially open additional opportunities for players such as Fermín López. But it would also remove one of Flick's most versatile attacking options halfway through the season.
For Olmo, meanwhile, Bayern could represent an opportunity to take on a more prominent role at another European giant. For Barcelona, it could represent something much more difficult: losing a player who may not always be the first name on the team sheet, but who has repeatedly demonstrated that he can become decisive when the biggest games arrive. With Bayern Munich reportedly preparing for the possibility of changes involving Musiala and Olise, Dani Olmo's name is now firmly back on the German club's radar.
Whether Barcelona would actually consider letting their Spanish World Cup winner leave in January is another question entirely. For Barca fans, that may ultimately be the more important one.
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