Manchester City have earmarked Michael Olise as the ideal Riyad Mahrez replacement but faces competition from rivals for the Crystal Palace winger.
According to Football Insider, Manchester City are serious about Michael Olise as they begin the search for a Riyad Mahrez replacement. The Crystal Palace star will probably make the top of Pep Guardiola’s shortlist with what he offers on the pitch, but they face competition from Chelsea and others.
Michael Olise has improved his game significantly since joining Crystal Palace two years ago. The winger has forged a reputation as one of the best talents, with the French youth international garnering top interest from English clubs.
Olise was the only other player to provide 11 assists for a player 21 or under in Europe’s top 5 leagues, level with Bukayo Saka. His impact has been as he also became the first ever Palace player to register 10 assists or more in a league season.
Interest in the attacker is only natural as Chelsea and Arsenal have managed to show their admiration. The two London sides are finding ways to sign him and may have already held talks. Chelsea, in particular, have held serious talks with Crystal Palace, which could give them an upper hand.
Despite popular reporting on a supposed £35 million release clause, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook suggested the clause does not exist. Had Olise’s contract had one, then it’s a straightforward deal for any club, who would have to trigger the sum and talk to the player.
Without a clause, Palace may have the upper hand in negotiations and demand a significant price for Olise. Manchester City are now showing serious interest in Olise as Pep Guardiola searches for a replacement for Saudi Arabia-bound winger Riyad Mahrez.
There have been links to Barcelona’s Raphinha as an ideal Mahrez replacement. But Guardiola may also look at other names for various reasons. For starters, the Brazilian will want to continue with the Catalans, and his price tag may prove exorbitant.
Olise, on the other hand, is also Premier League-proven and has shown considerable talent over the last two years. His profile as a left-footed right-winger makes him the ideal replacement for Mahrez. Guardiola likes his wingers to create more for central players, and the 21-year-old Chelsea target fits the criteria.
Manchester City have plenty of firepower to convince Olise. But Chelsea may also have ideas to make him join the Stamford Bridge side. The 21-year-old seems settled in London, but the Blues could face further complications if Arsenal decides to enter the race with full force.
