Chelsea Activate £35m Release Clause for Crystal Palace Winger Michael Olise
Chelsea Football Club is reportedly set to complete the signing of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise after activating his £35 million release clause. The 21-year-old France Under-21 international is expected to join a number of new signings at Chelsea if the deal is finalized.
However, Olise is currently sidelined due to a hamstring tear he suffered at the Under-21 European Championship. This injury could potentially prevent him from playing until the end of September.
Olise signed for Crystal Palace in 2021 on a five-year deal from Reading. Since then, he has established himself as an important player for Roy Hodgson’s side and had an outstanding year in the 2022-23 season. He won both the player’s player of the season and the club’s goal of the season awards.
During the Premier League campaign, Olise became the first Palace player ever to achieve 10 or more assists. He also became the youngest player to claim three assists from open play in a single English top-flight match. His 11 assists ranked him fourth in the division.
Chelsea has been spending heavily in the summer transfer window, with the arrival of Moises Caicedo for a British record £115 million on Monday. This takes their total spending to over £275 million.
Analyzing Olise’s potential impact on Chelsea, Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam highlights his significant development over the past year. Olise has become more defensively capable and influential in attack. He is known for his confidence on the pitch and his ability to draw defenders in before making quick movements down the touchline or cutting inside on his left foot.
Furthermore, Olise’s decision-making has improved, as he has learned when to cross or take a shot himself. However, there is still room for further improvement in his game.
If Olise completes his move to Chelsea, Crystal Palace will face a considerable gap in their squad. His attacking talent is unmatched within the team, and no other player offers a similar style of play. The departure of Wilfried Zaha, who joined Galatasaray at the end of his contract, has left Palace with limited wide options.
Replacing Olise’s contributions will be a challenging task for Crystal Palace, and his absence will be sorely felt.
In conclusion, Chelsea’s activation of Michael Olise’s £35 million release clause indicates their intent to strengthen their squad further. Olise’s potential arrival adds to the club’s already significant summer spending. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, will face a difficult task in replacing his attacking prowess and unique style of play.