Michael Olise risks big Bayern Munich fine if he breaks same rule as Coutinho and Coman

Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise is reportedly eyeing a move to Bayern Munich this summer, a transfer that could come with an unexpected perk. Despite interest from Premier League giants such as Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester United and Manchester City, the 22-year-old Frenchman appears to have set his sights on the German club.

Crystal Palace has valued their star midfielder at over £60million, a price tag that may have deterred Chelsea, who are not currently in the Champions League, a requirement stipulated in Olise’s release clause.

Should the transfer go through, Olise will join the likes of Harry Kane and Eric Dier in making the move from London to Bavaria. Alongside learning German and partaking in Oktoberfest, joining Bayern also comes with a unique car-related proposition.

Since 2002, Bayern has been sponsored by Audi, who also owns 8.33 per cent of the club. This partnership ensures all players receive a company car from Audi upon arrival, with the caveat that it must be used for commuting to training, matches and other club events.

For instance, Kane opted for a black Q8 e-tron after his move from Tottenham last summer.

“I’ve already tried [driving in Germany], but of course not with the new car,” Kane told BILD. “I’ll slowly get used to the fact that the steering wheel is on the other side. So far I haven’t had a crash, so that’s a positive thing.”

Kane has splashed out on a swanky motor starting at £58,000, while his teammates are zipping around in the flashy Audi RS e-tron GT, priced at a cool £120,000. The perk of a gratis vehicle isn’t without its pitfalls though; several Bayern Munich players have previously been fined for driving non-Audi cars, which goes against the club’s sponsorship rules.

Bayern’s strict policy allows players to drive only Bentleys, Bugattis and Porsches, all under the Volkswagen umbrella, but stepping out of line with other brands can hit the wallet hard. Kingsley Coman felt the pinch when he was slapped with a hefty £43,500 fine for rocking up in his McLaren instead of an Audi due to a damaged wing mirror.

Niklas Sule, Jerome Boateng and Philippe Coutinho have also faced financial penalties for similar offences.

For Olise, however, such concerns are likely far from his mind as he gears up for a potential lucrative move. With Bayern Munich eyeing a squad revamp under new boss Vincent Kompany after a shockingly barren 2023/24 season, Olise could be a pivotal figure in the club’s rejuvenation plans.