Chelsea’s pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has been reignited, with reports suggesting that the Blues have made contact with Palace to discuss a potential transfer. Olise, who signed a new contract with Palace last summer, now has a £60 million release clause. However, this hefty fee has not deterred Chelsea from pursuing the player.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea have reached out to Olise’s representatives to express their interest. Despite Olise signing a new deal with Palace less than a year ago, Chelsea are reportedly prepared to meet the release clause. This shows their determination to secure the Frenchman’s services.
Olise joined Crystal Palace from Reading in 2021 and has since made 90 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and providing 25 assists. The 22-year-old had an impressive 2023/2024 season, finding the back of the net 10 times in just 19 games. Unfortunately, he missed a significant portion of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.
The winger’s performances have not gone unnoticed, as he has earned a place in Thierry Henry’s provisional France squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. If France reaches the gold medal match, Olise will have just one week to recover before the start of the Premier League season.
This potential transfer is still developing, and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be successful in their pursuit of Olise. However, their interest in the talented young winger highlights their ambition to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
In other news, Manchester United recently announced that Erik ten Hag would be staying on as manager. The decision came after a prolonged period of uncertainty, with the club taking over two weeks to confirm Ten Hag’s position following their FA Cup win.
Manchester United stated that they needed to conduct a thorough review of the season before making a decision on Ten Hag’s future. However, this review had supposedly already taken place before the Cup final. It seems that the club was considering other potential managerial options, rather than solely focusing on Ten Hag.
The club also praised Ten Hag for his “dedication, dignity, and professionalism,” implying that he handled the situation with grace despite being treated poorly by the club. This includes his request for a public vote of confidence from owner Ratcliffe, which went unanswered. Ratcliffe even failed to mention Ten Hag in his congratulatory message after the FA Cup victory, despite the manager’s significant contribution to the win.
This situation raises questions about Manchester United’s handling of the managerial situation and the level of respect shown to Ten Hag. It remains to be seen how this will impact the club moving forward and whether any further fallout will occur as a result.
In conclusion, Chelsea’s pursuit of Michael Olise demonstrates their determination to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. Manchester United’s handling of Erik ten Hag’s future raises concerns about the club’s decision-making and treatment of their manager. These developments will undoubtedly have an impact on the respective clubs’ upcoming seasons and could shape their long-term prospects.