Chelsea is close to securing its second summer signing, beating out Newcastle United for the highly sought-after Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise.
The 22-year-old has reportedly agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, a significant development in the transfer saga.
Olise’s impressive performance last season, scoring 10 goals in 19 Premier League appearances, caught the attention of top clubs like Manchester United, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Transfer expert Ben Jacobs revealed that Newcastle United has been priced out of the deal, with Olise’s valuation set at £60 million.
Interestingly, Olise had previously agreed to join Chelsea last summer, but the deal fell through.
However, he has now verbally agreed to terms with Chelsea again, indicating a strong desire to join the club.
Chelsea is currently in discussions with Crystal Palace to finalize the payment schedule for Olise’s release clause, which exceeds £60 million.
Olise’s history with Chelsea is noteworthy, having spent seven years in the club’s academy before moving to Manchester City and Reading, eventually joining Palace in 2021.
While Manchester United still holds an interest in Olise, they may take comfort in knowing that Chelsea previously failed to complete a deal for him.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United is likely to miss out on Olise but remains in the market for a right winger.
They have shown interest in West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen, although his valuation might be too high for them.
Newcastle United is also evaluating 19-year-old Yankuba Minteh, who had a successful loan spell at Feyenoord, scoring 11 goals. Minteh is valued at £40 million by Newcastle, who are considering his future.
This development highlights Newcastle’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad, despite potentially missing out on Olise.
The transfer market is always full of twists and turns, and this saga is no exception.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Olise demonstrates their commitment to building a strong squad, while Newcastle United’s interest in alternative targets showcases their determination to improve their team.
As the summer transfer window continues, fans can expect more exciting developments in the world of football.