Newcastle United are reportedly monitoring Michael Olise, who has a release clause worth £35 million in his contract with Crystal Palace.
According to NUFC Blog, Newcastle United are keeping tabs on Michael Olise, with Eddie Howe keen on bringing in a right-winger this summer. The 20-year-old Crystal Palace ace is high on the list of some big Premier League clubs after a scintillating first season in the top flight.
Patrick Vieira’s arrival last summer coincided with Crystal Palace’s drastic changes to their transfer policy. From going for experienced stars at the tail end of their prime years to bringing in exciting young talents, the intentions and strategy are clear.
Michael Olise was one of the exciting signings from last season, and the former Reading starlet flourished under Vieira. After watching and learning in the initial stages of the season, the France Under-21 international burst onto the scene and had a tremendous season.
While four goals and eight assists in all competitions are hardly impressive numbers, the winger established himself as one of Crystal Palace’s best players. His refreshing ideas brought a new look to the club’s attack, and the London club face the danger of losing him sooner than they might have anticipated.
Clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have been interested in the Frenchman since January. However, for now, those clubs are looking at other options in the market, with Newcastle United now pondering a sensational move for Olise in this window.
The Magpies seek a new right-winger this summer and have been linked with several names. Most notable among those is Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby, with Newcastle holding talks with the German club. However, since his price tag is pretty high for their standards, the Tyneside outfit are considering all their options.
Noa Lang is another player linked with Newcastle in recent days. The Dutchman prefers to play on the left, but he is still considered a cheaper alternative to Diaby. However, their interest in Olise shows Eddie Howe wants a prominent player for the right-hand side, and the Crystal Palace man could be the answer.
For now, Newcastle are only keeping tabs on his situation. Earlier reports indicated Olise might have a £35 million release clause. However, new stories have suggested the termination fee could rise to £50 million if the winger signs a new deal at Selhurst Park. The price reported for Olise seems high, but he holds massive future value. Clubs like Newcastle may not hold back from making a big move, as they might consider it a wise investment on a promising player.
Vieira would certainly not be happy to see Olise leave and is likely to urge Crystal Palace to keep hold of the France Under-21 ace, at least for one more season. From the player’s perspective, there have been no indications about joining another team, although if a big club makes a tempting offer, things can change quickly in football.