Chelsea are looking to beat Manchester United to the signing of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, according to The Mirror.
The Blues have contacted their capital rivals as they look to hash out the terms of a deal for Olise, who is attracting plenty of interest from Premier League clubs.
Along with Chelsea and Man Utd, Newcastle United have also registered an interest in Olise, but they could struggle to match his price tag due to their financial situation.
Palace value Olise at around £60-£70 million and Chelsea have positioned themselves as the leading candidates to sign him this summer.
The Blues have already asked permission from Palace to speak with the player’s representatives so they can agree on personal terms.
Liverpool and Arsenal have also expressed interest in Olise. Given that they can offer Champions League football, both clubs have a slight edge over Chelsea in the race.
Chelsea are long-term admirers of the former Reading forward and came close to signing him last summer, but the move fell through.
Olise decided to stay in South London and signed a new deal with the Eagles, but Chelsea’s interest in his services has not waned.
They want to bolster their attacking options on the right flank, and Olise has been identified as the ideal addition that fits into Enzo Maresca’s philosophy.
The former France Under-21 international had a stellar campaign last season, bagging ten goals and six assists in 19 Premier League games.
He struggled with injuries, which has been a recurring theme throughout his career, but he’s undeniably a phenomenal player and would be a game-changing signing for Chelsea.
Olise was Palace’s primary creative outlet last season. In addition to his 16 goal contributions, the Frenchman also created nine big chances, averaging 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes.
Chelsea are keen to finally sign Olise and are in pole position to beat their Premier League rivals in the race.
Stats from Sofascore.com
