Manchester United are reportedly planning to make Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise one of their first summer signings of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are in the middle of an overhaul behind the scenes following INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion deal, with his minority stake also granting him control of sporting matters. While the deal still needs to be ratified, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have already started making plans for the future.
According to the Evening Standard, Manchester United have added Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise to their transfer wish list and would look to trigger his release clause in the summer.
Olise, 22, was on the radar of Chelsea last summer, while Manchester City were also keen, but he decided to sign a new four-year contract with Crystal Palace. However, his new deal includes a release clause that comes into effect in the summer. The report adds the release clause is unknown but it is likely to be significantly more than the £35million release clause in the winger’s previous Palace contract.
Michael Olise to Manchester United—Right choice?
One of the many problems Erik ten Hag’s Man United have encountered his season is a lack of productivity from their wide attackers and a shortage of service for £72million striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has managed just one goal in the Premier League so far.
Antony, an £85m recruit from Ajax in 2022, hasn’t provided a single goal or assist in 21 outings this season, while Marcus Rashford has just five goal contributions in 19 league appearances. Jadon Sancho has been exiled from the first-team squad since September and is closing in on a return to Borussia Dortmund on loan in this winter transfer window.
There is a clear need for some fresh attacking players at Old Trafford after Ten Hag’s side have scored just 22 goals in the Premier League this season, fewer than every team except bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United. And Michael Olise could provide fresh vigour and dynamism to United’s attack.
Having missed the opening months of the season with a hamstring injury, Olise has scored five goals and supplied one assist in nine matches since his return. A right-winger by trade, the Frenchman can operate on the opposite flank, as a No.10 or as an attacking No.8, and such versatility could be a boon for the Red Devils. The 22-year-old is adept at taking on opponents, beating them with his dribbling skills and flair and also has a very good end product.
Purely because of the end product and goal contributions for Palace, Olise would represent an immediate upgrade on Antony. The creative winger has already shown what he can do in the Premier League and would certainly be an exciting addition to the Red Devils’ squad. At 22, the Frenchman still has time to improve even further and could become a valuable long-term asset for Man United.
A wide player with an eye for goal is someone who could fill a huge gap in the United attack, and Ten Hag would love to have a player like Olise in his squad. So, Man United must pull out all the stops to sign Olise in the summer.
