EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise is courting interest from a host of top Premier League clubs, with Chelsea hoping to leapfrog their rivals in the race
Chelsea have already made the first move in the battle for £60million Michael Olise.
Despite investing heavily in the right-sided position, the Blues have earmarked the berth for Crystal Palace ‘s versatile 22-year-old in Enzo Maresca’s team for next season.
Chelsea are desperate to beat both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool to land Olise and have made contact with Crystal Palace this week.
Palace – who accept he wants to play in the Champions League – will only listen to offers between £60m-£70m to land the man who scored 10 times from just 14 league starts, assisting six times over the past season.
City, Liverpool and Arsenal have the edge on Chelsea as London-born Olise wants to play in the Champions League. But that will not deter the Blues who remain hugely impressed by his dataset and his consistent high level of performance.
The west Londoners have a long-standing interest in Olise, who scored 10 times from just 14 league starts, assisting six times over the past season.
His arrival will leave Maresca and Chelsea with a conundrum as the club already have Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Omari Hutchison who can all play on the right.
The club are poised to conclude a £55million move for Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian from Palmeiras and will welcome Kendry Paes from Ecuadorian Serie A club Independiente Del Valle next year.
While Mauricio Pochettino parted company with the club after failing to acquire the greater say in transfers he had asked for, Maresca is happy to work within the parameters set for him
Chelsea’s owners want to retain their approach of bringing in players with the head coach focusing on preparing the team.
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