Chelsea eyes Michael Olise. African footballers. Premier League giants Chelsea are reportedly negotiating to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise as the first addition of the Enzo Maresca era at Stamford Bridge. Olise is a key player to boost Chelsea’s attack, even though they have cooled their interest in Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.
After another great season with Crystal Palace, Olise has drawn interest from top clubs, including Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City. Both teams were interested in Olise last summer, but the French youth international signed a new deal with Crystal Palace, which expires in 2027.
Despite his long contract, Chelsea will try to lure the Crystal Palace forward in the summer transfer window.
Read also: Ghanaian-German football star Jerome Boateng joins LASK
Chelsea begin negotiations for Michael Olise
According to Footmercato, Chelsea have begun talks with Michael Olise’s representatives, hoping to secure a contract agreement before negotiating a transfer fee with Crystal Palace. Olise, who joined Crystal Palace in 2021, is close to making 100 appearances for the club in all competitions. The 22-year-old is a key player for Crystal Palace and would likely require a substantial fee from Chelsea or any other interested clubs.
More about Michael Olise
Michael Akpovie Olise (born 12 December 2001) is a winger for Premier League club Crystal Palace. Born in England, he has represented France at the youth international level.
Olise was born to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, making him eligible to represent France, Algeria, England, or Nigeria. On 27 May 2019, he was called up to the France U18 team for the Toulon Tournament and debuted on 2 June 2019 against Qatar U23. In March 2021, he was named as a standby for Nigeria’s squad in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In March 2022, he made his debut for France’s U21 team in a 2–0 win over the Faroe Islands U21.
Read also: Top favourites to win the 2024 African Footballer of the Year
Olise is a left-footed attacking midfielder who can play as a number 10 or on either wing. He is known for his quick passing, good first touch, and awareness of his surroundings. Olise has an excellent range of passing, which he uses to penetrate defenses or change the angle of attack. He typically operates 50 to 30 yards from goal in the right half-space, using various options to advance the attack.