Chelsea are looking to add more players to their large squad of young talents as the latest reports suggest that they have entered into an agreement with Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise.
Since he joined Palace from Reading in 2021, he has been one of the league’s best young players. He has attracted interest from all the big clubs and his ties to France by way of his maternal heritage has also seen Paris Saint-Germain take a look at him.
Palace are very aware that they cannot keep him for longer and have slapped a huge price tag on him. However, they intend to keep him and are trying to make this dream happen.
In the meantime, the former French U-21 international is preparing to represent his national team at the Paris Olympics in the summer. He is also in talks with relevant stakeholders over his future.
Some of those stakeholders come from the Western side of London, where, according to reports, optimism to land the forward is growing.
Olise, who can play in the number 10 role as well as out wide on both wings, could find himself moving from South to West London in the summer as Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the player.
The personal terms in question involve his wages and bonuses, as well as other financial obligations which may or may not include a release clause and a sell-on clause. However, the Blues, who are now under the tutelage of Enzo Maresca, are yet to make any kind of headway with Palace over Olise’s transfer.
Palace managed to get Olise to extend his stay with them last season and slapped a £65 million release clause on him. This is the minimum figure Chelsea will have to pay but it could be a problem thanks to the league’s FFP rules. To meet up with this, Chelsea will have to sell and that is what they plan to do.
While Chelsea discusses Olise, they are reportedly considering selling Christopher Nkunku to fund the Frenchman’s transfer.
Nkunku came to the club with so much promise but an injury-ravaged season prevented him from doing any sort of damage against opponents.
He could now be leaving after a turbulent time at Stamford Bridge to find the transfer of one of the biggest Premier League talents.
Saudi Arabia are of course interested in Nkunku, who the Blues have previously stated that they want to keep. However, with a possible competition for Olise and Chelsea desperate to see the player wear their colours, it is believed they will listen to big offers for the man who they signed for £52 million in the 2022/23 winter transfer window.
