Chelsea is on the verge of completing their second summer transfer, beating out Newcastle United for the signing of Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 22-year-old has agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, and the club is now negotiating with Palace to finalize the payment schedule for his release clause, which exceeds £60 million.
Olise has been a highly sought-after player, attracting interest from top clubs like Manchester United, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
His impressive performance in the 2023-24 season, where he scored 10 goals in 19 Premier League appearances, has made him a valuable asset for any team.
Chelsea’s interest in Olise is not new, as they had initially agreed to sign him last summer, but the deal fell through.
However, Olise has once again verbally committed to joining Chelsea, and the club is determined to finalize the deal this time around.
Newcastle United, who were also in the running for Olise’s signature, have been priced out of the race, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs.
Manchester United still have an interest in Olise, but they may be hesitant to pursue a deal after Chelsea’s previous failure to finalize a transfer.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United is still in search of a right winger this summer and has expressed interest in West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen.
However, Bowen may also be out of their financial reach.
As an alternative, Newcastle is considering 19-year-old Yankuba Minteh, who had an impressive loan spell at Feyenoord, scoring 11 goals.
Minteh is valued at £40 million, and Newcastle is currently contemplating his future.
The transfer saga surrounding Olise has been ongoing for two years, and Chelsea’s determination to sign him is a testament to his talent and potential.
If the deal is finalized, Olise will join a talented young squad at Chelsea, and his addition will likely strengthen the team’s attack.
As the transfer window continues to unfold, fans and pundits alike will be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding Olise and other top players.