Ranking Chelsea’s attacking midfield and forward options this summer
By Malcom David
2. Michael Olise
According to Fabrizio Romano, the west Londoners and Manchester City are both in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. Olise reportedly has a release clause of around £35m and the Blues are willing to slightly in excess of it to acquire the forward. he is Premier League-proven and will have likely have an easier time adapting to Chelsea than other targets. The U21 French national recorded 11 assists last season ranking him fourth in the division along with two goals.
This Chelsea team needs creators more than ever. Last season the Blues failed to have a player record five premier league assists with Raheem Sterling being the team’s leader in creation with a measly three assists. Olise immediately adds that threat to Chelsea’s final output and although he may not rank highly for goals, his proven ability to create chances for his teammates will prove crucial in this Mauricio Pochettino side.
Realistically, Olise is the readiest of all targets to contribute to the Blues first team. Although, a major setback to signing him is that he’s currently nursing a torn hamstring injury. Although it’s rumored to not be too serious, he is expected to miss the beginning of the season and that is surely something to be considered while engaging in serious negotiations.