Michael Olise has been spotted in France as Chelsea look to wrap up a deal for the Crystal Palace winger.
The Blues have made contact with the £60m-rated asset amid an intense transfer race. The likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich thought to be interested in the 22-year-old, who scored ten goals and recorded six assists in 19 matches last season.
The Frenchman suffered two hamstring injury setbacks over the past year, which ruled him out for 18 Premier League games, so his transfer would not be a risk-free move. Chelsea are meanwhile thought to be close to spending limits this summer.
It’s likely that Todd Boehly will sanction a number of exits this summer to try and balance the books and avoid any points penalty next season. Olise would not be a cheap buy and it is uncertain whether Chelsea are aiming for his potential transfer to be sanctioned before June 30 – the end date for the current three-year financial cycle within Profit & Sustainability Rules.
The Blues are considered ahead in the race for Olise but might be pressed to pull the trigger early given the supposed interest from rivals. If this is done soon, Chelsea could look to shepherd a few players out of the door within the fortnight amid their battle with spending rules.
Another reason why Chelsea may feel the need to get a deal across the line early is Olise’s participation in France’s Olympic squad. The attacker missed out on his country’s squad for Euro 2024 but has been selected by Thierry Henry to represent his nation at the home Games.
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The football event starts on July 24 and ends on August 9, with France expected to go far in the competition. It seems Henry is asking for his players to meet up in good time, with Olise already spotted in France this week.
The playmaker’s omission from the Euros offer Chelsea time to sort out a deal before the start of the Olympics, with the men’s gold medal match taking place just eight days before the Premier League season starts.
If France go far, it would mean Olise misses pre-season and thus time to bed into the club, which creates a difficult situation for Chelsea if an early deal isn’t struck. Negotiations for Olise are expected to ramp up in the coming weeks ahead of a possible official transfer date scheduled for July.
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