Manchester City loses out on Olise
Michael Olise, the 21-year-old Crystal Palace star, is set to reject a transfer offer from Manchester City and instead return to his former club. Manchester City had expressed interest in the winger, who had a standout season at Selhurst Park last year, recording two goals and 11 assists and being named Player of the Year. However, with Wilfried Zaha already leaving the club, Olise is now expected to join Chelsea instead.
Chelsea set to secure Olise
After having their initial £26million bid rejected by Palace, Chelsea is close to securing Olise's return to Stamford Bridge. Personal terms were agreed upon last week, and a fee is still to be negotiated. Olise's addition would provide further competition in Mauricio Pochettino's squad, with players like Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, and Carney Chukwuemeka already battling it out for the wide positions.
Olise's potential for France or England
Olise, a France Under-21 international, has the option to represent England, France, Algeria, or Nigeria at the senior level. Regardless of his decision, Palace boss Roy Hodgson has stated that he will not stand in Olise's way if the player wishes to leave. Hodgson said, "If there are clubs desperately preparing a bid and tempting him then he'll decide. I can only wait and see what decision he will make, he knows we want to keep him."
Olise's journey from Chelsea to Crystal Palace
Olise initially joined Chelsea at the age of seven but was released by the club when he was 14. He then joined the Reading academy and subsequently signed for Crystal Palace in 2021 for £8m. If Chelsea agrees to pay at least £35m for Olise, it would bring their total spending under the Todd Boehly era closer to £1billion in just three transfer windows.
