Manchester United is currently the front-runner in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise should he choose to leave the club this summer. It is understood that the 22-year-old has a release clause in his contract that will become active after the end of the season. United’s new leadership, led by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have identified Olise as a key target for their summer rebuild.
Although the exact cost of signing Olise is unknown, sources suggest that it could be between £50m and £60m, significantly higher than the £35 million clause in his previous contract. Despite not being able to offer Champions League football next season, United is undeterred in their pursuit of the talented winger.
There have been talks of United potentially offering Aaron Wan-Bissaka as part of the deal to sign Olise, in order to boost the club’s transfer budget. However, negotiations are not at an advanced stage, and United may face competition from other Premier League rivals for Olise’s signature.
Last summer, Chelsea thought they had triggered Olise’s release clause but the deal fell through due to a technicality. This led to Palace chairman Steve Parish renegotiating a better deal with Olise, thwarting Chelsea’s initial attempt. Despite this, Chelsea may still be interested in Olise, especially with the pressure to sell players to comply with PSR regulations.
Liverpool and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Olise, especially if Mohamed Salah departs from Liverpool. Both clubs could offer Champions League football, adding to the appeal for the young winger. Arsenal have reportedly scouted Olise, although they have a long-standing interest in Wolves’ Pedro Neto as well.
Apart from Olise, United and Arsenal are also tracking Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has a little over two years left on his contract. Guehi is focused on recovering from a knee injury to feature for Palace this season and potentially earn a spot in England’s national team for Euro 2024.
Manchester United seems to be in pole position to secure the services of Michael Olise this summer. With a strong interest in the talented winger, United are prepared to make a significant financial commitment to bring Olise to Old Trafford. However, they may face competition from Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal in the pursuit of Olise’s signature. It remains to be seen where Olise will end up, but one thing is for sure – he is a highly sought-after player in the Premier League.