Chelsea have reportedly submitted a €30 million bid for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who has already agreed personal terms ahead of a potential Stamford Bridge move this summer.
According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Chelsea have submitted a verbal offer worth around €30 million for Crystal Palace trickster Michael Olise after striking an agreement in principle over personal terms with the 21-year-old, who is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2026.
The transfer expert adds that Chelsea’s opening verbal bid will most likely be rejected given the player’s €40 release clause, which is a sodding bargain for a talented youngster with proven Premier League experience. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are still awaiting assurances concerning Olise’s recent hamstring injury before tabling a formal written offer.
The 21-year-old joined the Eagles from Reading in 2021 for a measly £8 million, and has since emerged as one of the most exciting talents in the English top-flight.
Olise is set to miss the start of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury playing for France Under-21s during the recent European Under-21 Championships, but this has not put off suitors willing to prise him away from Palace.
The forward has been targeted by Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola after a stellar campaign in which he was voted Palace’s Players’ player of the year, having recorded 11 assists, the fourth most assists in the Premier League last term, and two goals in the process. Overall, he has racked up six goals and 19 assists in 71 games with the Eagles across all competitions.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson recently admitted that Palace have “a fight on our hands” to keep hold of their prized attacker, who has a reported £35 million buyout clause in his existing contract. It is understood that both Chelsea and City are considering making a move this summer, and the aforementioned fee wouldn’t be an issue for either City or Chelsea.
Manchester City, for one, are in the market for a winger following the departure of Riyad Mahrez to PIF-funded Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, with rumours persisting about Bernardo Silva’s possible departure.
However, it’s Todd Boehly’s Chelsea who have come forward with a verbal offer. The Blues have been busy this summer, sanctioning ins and outs at Stamford Bridge as Pochettino trims his squad.
With the Blues struggling for goals last term, Olise’s arrival would be welcomed by the Stamford Bridge faithful. Several central strikers in Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have been added, with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Angelo Gabriel, and Mykhaylo Mudryk providing danger from out wide.
As for Palace, it’s a concerning situation. Having already lost talismanic forward Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer, they are set to replace the Ivorian with Brazilian wonderkid Matheus Franca, with a deal worth up to £26 million already agreed with Flamengo for the 19-year-old, who is expected to complete his move this week.
However, Eberechi Eze has not signed an extension to his contract, which ends in 2025, and some of Palace’s other key players are being continually chased by big guns. Midfielder Cheick Doucoure is being tracked by Liverpool, while defenders Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi have been linked with Newcastle and Tottenham, respectively.
