Chelsea transfer news: The Blues have more than one reason to beat Manchester City to the signing of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise as Mauricio Pochettino plan emerges
Christopher Nkunku could have a new, exciting attacking partner at Chelsea (Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Since Reece James stormed through the Championship in 2018/19, taking the captaincy at Wigan as an 18-year-old loanee on his first venture into senior football, only nine other teenagers have hit 3,000 minutes in a 46-game season in the second division.
James’ rise at Chelsea came one year later alongside Mason Mount – one of the other nine – while Trevoh Chalobah graduated from perennial youth loanee to first team player two seasons later. Since then Ian Maatsen is one of five players to achieve such a feat after 2019/20.
He is now competing for a role in Mauricio Pochettino’s senior set-up. Other names that jump out are Alex Scott – set for a £25million plus move to the Premier League from Bristol City – and Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp, now playing regular top flight games.
For Blues fans there is another that fits the bill that is of rising interest. Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise.
Formerly a Cobham player himself, let go at the age of 14 much like Declan Rice was, Olise is now an established Premier League star and is attracting the interest of teams already in and competing for European spots. At 21 he is now one of the most sought after players in his position.
A left-footed right-winger, something Chelsea certainly know a lot about having signed four of them in the past 12 months as well as losing development team prospect Tudor Mendel-Idowu on a free and currently owning Hakim Ziyech, Olise is strongly linked to the club.
He is a player that mirrors plenty of Ziyech’s positive qualities with a high volume of crosses and take-ons from the right flank. He can cut back onto his wicked left peg and seek out teammates across the park. His defensive abilities are among the best for wingers as well, ranking in the top 15 per cent for tackled, interceptions and blocks on FBREF.
In essence, he’s a bit of a gem and certainly someone who is continuing to impress. Due to arriving on the scene early, Olise feels like he has been around for a while. He has a healthy 8,500 league minutes under his belt at this stage with 11 goals but 29 assists to show for his work.
Far from an output machine, there is style and substance to Olise’s game which made him the 10th best producer of goals in 2020/21 as an 18-year-old in the Championship. The next youngest player in the top ten was still five years older than him. He is now waiting for the chance to prove that like James, he can make it at Chelsea.
The Blues are said to be exploring the possibility of signing Olise and it makes total sense. They wish to find a player capable of operating on the right as well as coming inside into a No.10 role as well. Olise fits the bill and with a £35million ($44m) release clause, the young Frenchman is as cheap as they come for the relative quality.
Although the belief is that Chelsea will go above the clause in his contract in order to establish better payment terms with Palace, it is still a low figure for a player that has demonstrated his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 openly for two years in the Premier League. Add in Pochettino’s track record of not only improving youngsters but also attackers and it’s a promising thought.
Christopher Nkunku, 25, is already capable of moving between roles across the frontline as well as acting as the striker himself. Should his eye for output be combined with the silky play of Olise, it could be one of the most exciting partnerships out there. Despite a relatively small tally of just four league goals in his 43 starts, Olise’s creative actions are top tier.
“Michael’s a special talent,” Palace teammate Joel Ward said of him earlier this year, showing the regard in which he is held. “The world’s his oyster and he’s just getting better and better from game to game, so I think he’s going to go onto new heights and set the bar. If he continues that way, he’s going to go on to special things.
“They [Olise and teammate Eberechi Eze] certainly make my life a little bit easier when I can just give them the ball, and they go and do their magic!”
The worry is that Manchester City are also expressing interest and they are preparing to lose Riyad Mahrez, opening up a clear slot in the side. At Chelsea there is less of a gap. Noni Madueke, a 21-year-old left-footed right-winger, was signed for £35million in January. Diego Moreira and Angelo Gabriel are players with immense promise currently being tested in pre-season and Raheem Sterling has also been chosen to play from that side so far in America.
That’s certainly one thing that could stand in their way, another could be his recent injury when in action for France’s Under-21s at the European Championships, Olise suffered a massive blow with a hamstring year and is expected to miss the start of the 2023/24 season.
“We’ve known since the injury that it’s going to take a while for him to get fit again,” manager Roy Hodgson revealed. “It was a serious injury which required an operation. He’s well into his rehabilitation but it’s going to take a bit longer for him to recover.
“At the moment we’re just hoping that the rehabilitation will go well and that we get him back as quickly as possible. But we certainly we won’t be seeing him for a period of time.”
Chelsea have had a torrid time with injuries over the past two years and hardly need another player that could be a flight risk for the new season but Olise’s record outside of this recent setback. He has been a consistent feature in Palace and Reading sides across a senior career that is already into its fifth year.
Outside of this issue, Chelsea have the chance to make a shrewd signing in a key area and it only makes all the sense in the world.
Soucre: football.london
