Chelsea continue in their talks with Crystal Palace over a deal to sign Michael Olise this summer.
The Blues tried to sign the 22-year-old last year but the complexity of the clause in his previous contract caused the club some problems. Olise then went onto sign a new deal at Selhurst Park and there is now a clause believed to be in the region of £60million.
Chelsea, though, are yet to discuss personal terms with Olise and his representatives. The club are biding their time to try and get the best possible deal but there are other sides in the frame, too, with Newcastle United, Manchester United and Bayern Munich all understood to be interested.
Olise enjoyed a brilliant 2023/24 season with Crystal Palace, although it was disrupted by injury problems. He missed half of Palace’s Premier League matches but still managed to score 10 goals and assist six times in 19 appearances.
His performances impressed so much that Micah Richards claimed he would go on to become “world-class” in the future. However, the former England international did warn potential suitors that he would need to be guided in the right direction in order to unleash all of his talent.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Richards said: “He is going to be world-class. He is just one of them young players who needs to be guided in the right way.
“If he was ever to leave, or when he leaves Palace, if he picks the right team where he is allowed to express himself he is going to be a superstar. He is that good. He is going to the very top.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea remain in talks with Aston Villa to sign striker Jhon Duran. The 20-year-old is valued at around £45million by his current employers but the Blues are doing their best to drive that price down.
Duran is understood to be keen on the move to Stamford Bridge after one-and-a-half seasons at Villa Park. The Colombian striker was on the periphery of the Villa first-team last season but impressed during cameo appearances.
