Chelsea reach agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Olise

Chelsea Football Club have reportedly made significant progress in their pursuit of Michael Olise, reaching a personal agreement with the Crystal Palace star. The Premier League side made a £26 million bid for the talented winger as they continue to bolster their squad under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Throughout the summer transfer window, Chelsea has been active in strengthening their team, securing the signatures of six new players. Yet, they remain open to exploring more deals until the window closes, and their focus has now shifted to Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise.

The 21-year-old has garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting players at Selhurst Park, impressing with his performances over the past two seasons, contributing significantly to Crystal Palace’s Premier League survival last term.

Olise’s form and his notable displays for the France U21 team have attracted interest from both Chelsea and Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions.

Despite currently nursing a hamstring injury suffered during the European U21 Championships this summer, Chelsea has not been deterred. They have made a £26 million offer to Crystal Palace in pursuit of the talented winger. Though Olise has a release clause of £35 million, Chelsea’s bid falls slightly below it, indicating that they may not need to raise their offer significantly to meet the buy-out clause.

According to reports from French outlet RMC Sport, Michael Olise has already agreed to personal terms with Chelsea. The London club is determined to improve their position in the Premier League after a disappointing 12th-place finish in the previous season.

Chelsea’s interest in Olise has been further fueled by the sales of Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, and Hakim Ziyech during this transfer window. Additionally, Callum Hudson-Odoi’s potential departure indicates the club’s active pursuit of bolstering their attacking options.

Should the deal be finalized, Michael Olise could become Mauricio Pochettino’s seventh summer signing, following in the footsteps of Robert Sanchez, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Axel Disasi, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Angelo Gabriel.

However, Manchester City may yet rival Chelsea for the talented Crystal Palace star. The Premier League champions are also in the market for a replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who is among several players that have made moves to Saudi Arabia this summer.