Reports suggest that Chelsea has made a £39 million bid for 21-year-old Nigerian-born French footballer Michael Olise, who currently plays for Crystal Palace. This bid exceeds Olise’s £35 million release clause, as Chelsea seeks to outdo Manchester City in securing the services of the talented winger.
Mauricio Pochettino, the new manager at Chelsea, is keen on rebuilding the squad this summer, but the focus has been on trimming the squad’s size. As the transfer budget is now bolstered, Chelsea aims to refresh the team with new signings.
Olise, who has previously been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, and PSG, had an impressive season with Crystal Palace, scoring twice and providing 11 assists in 37 Premier League appearances. His performances caught the attention of several top clubs, and Chelsea appears eager to get ahead of potential competitors by making an early bid.
Having a £35 million release clause in his contract, it is challenging for Crystal Palace to demand a higher fee for Olise’s services. Despite Chelsea’s offer, it is unlikely that Crystal Palace would want to part ways with the talented forward.
Interestingly, Olise was previously a part of Chelsea’s academy from 2009 to 2016 before moving to Manchester City and later Reading, where he rose to prominence. If he returns to Chelsea, he will join his younger brother Richard, who is already a part of Chelsea’s academy.
Olise’s recent injury during the European U21 Championships will see him miss the start of the Premier League season. Nevertheless, he still has ambitions of representing France’s senior team, and a move to Chelsea could draw the attention of the French national team coach, Didier Deschamps.
