Former Reading forward Michael Olise has gained major interest from many clubs with Premier League outfit Chelsea one of the teams interested.
In his early years, Olise was one of the most in-demand talents in the country. His appearances at youth level for Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all pointed to to the winger having plenty of potential and it’s fair to say he has fulfilled that in recent seasons.
This was all before the Frenchmen was inducted into Reading’s scholarship program in 2018 and he would feature over 60 times for the Royals in his five-year tenure. He’d excel in the 20/21 season as Reading just missed out on play-offs and was crowned EFL Young Player Of The Season as a result of his starring performances.
That’s one way to celebrate your 1⃣9⃣th birthday! 🎂
This is becoming a regular occurrence from @ReadingFC's @MichaelOlise10 🎯#EFLonQuest – Saturdays at 9pm #EFL #ReadingFC #Royals pic.twitter.com/FhnbvbFpwb
— Quest (@QuestTV) December 12, 2020
Due to those performances, Crystal Palace would trigger the £8.7 million release clause in his contract. His development would continue as he broke into the first team and has since became a star in the Eagles’ forward areas. Then amid interest from Chelsea, Olise would sign a four-year deal in the summer of 2023.
Following a strong end to the season for Palace under new manager Oliver Glasner, Olise featured heavily in the side’s resurgence up the table. Although the Eagles ended strong, could Chelsea be a better move?
After his great performances this term, The Mirror reported Olise could leave the South London outfit as there is interest from their London rivals. Crystal Palace have valued the player at £60 million.
The West Londoners are believed to have had a long-standing interest in the player and following another highly successful season, are upping their interest. He’s got all the hallmarks of a quality forward and he may take his level even higher if making a move.
Writer’s View
Olise has been consistently brilliant for Crystal Palace in recent years and he has always managed to impress despite playing for a rather unambitious side. However, under Glasner, the club showed they could compete with some of the best and there is evidence to suggest this is the case since the Austrian joined, where they picked up the fourth most points in the league.
An alternative analysis is Chelsea is the right move, as they are a side financially backed with the chance to win trophies. At such a young age, the winger can become a mainstay of the Blue’s side. Despite this, it is still undecided whether new manager Enzo Maresca will look to incorporate the attacker but he’s one of the Premier League’s finest forwards and has come a long way since breaking through at Reading.
