Former Reading Star Set To Make Monumental £60 Million Move To European Giants

Former Reading star Michael Olise is set to earn a monumental move to German giants Bayern Munich after impressing for Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Olise, who left the Select Car Leasing Stadium for South London in the summer of 2021 aged just 19, scored seven goals in 73 games for Reading. The Frenchman left with the club on the brink of the play-offs and in an encouraging position.

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Now, though, according to David Ornstein from The Athletic, the 22-year-old is set to choose to join Bayern Munich, following months of speculation over his future at Selhurst Park. He is reported to have declined the chance to remain in the Premier League to join the 33-time Bundesliga champions, rejecting offers from the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Just three years after Olise’s initial move to the top-flight, his former club Reading find themselves languishing down the lower end of League One having faced seemingly never-ending financial uncertainty under controversial owner Dai Yongge.

A percentage of what is expected to be a fee of £60 million or more for Olise could well help the club who at points last season were under threat of disappearing from the English pyramid completely. However, as reported by Berkshire Live in October 2022, The Royals have no sell-on percentage installed in his contract and therefore will not be the beneficiaries of any mega deal.

Mark Bowen, who managed Olise at Reading in 2019/20, told the Elm Park Royals Podcast: “We don’t [have a sell-on clause]. We had a buy-out clause in his contract, and he’s gone there (Crystal Palace) now. Looking back – and it’s difficult for me to point fingers – but when he did sign his contract, I would suggest the buy-out clause was way too low.”

Olise, who is also a part of Thierry Henry’s provisional French squad for the Paris Olympics this summer, is another example of the fantastic breeding ground that the EFL can be for young talent. With the likes of Adam Wharton and Ivan Toney making England’s Euro 2024 squad and now Olise’s Champions League-beckoning move, there has never been a better time than to reiterate the importance of the English EFL pyramid.

Writer’s View

This frustrating outcome sums up the recent years under the ownership of Dai Yongge for Reading supporters. An injection of cash from a previously intelligently crafted deal could well have sent them in the right direction for the upcoming campaign but instead, its them with financial eggs on their faces once again.

They will look to rebuild under Rubén Sellés this season though and improve on their 17th-placed finish in 2023/24, which came despite a six-point decoction. Although with finances still tight and with a reliance on academy products likely to be necessary once again, how Royals fans would love for another special talent like Michael Olise to rise through the ranks.

 

 

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