Reports indicate that Manchester United has included Michael Olise from Crystal Palace in their summer transfer wish list and is prepared to activate his release clause.
Amidst an overhaul at the club, triggered by Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion deal and his control over sporting matters through a minority stake, the Red Devils are addressing recruitment challenges under the Glazers.
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Ratcliffe is set to establish his team, with Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell being considered as frontrunners for the roles of sporting director and director of football.
The restructuring is unlikely to conclude in time to make a substantial impact in the January transfer window, as Ratcliffe’s deal is still pending ratification.
The current recruitment team will oversee this month’s activities, subject to Ineos approval, in what is anticipated to be a low-key window, focusing on offloading fringe players.
Looking ahead, United is contemplating summer additions, with reports from the Evening Standard suggesting that Olise could be among the initial high-profile signing
The 22-year-old, not under consideration for pursuit this month, is marked as a pivotal target in the upcoming squad overhaul at the end of the season.
Chelsea and Manchester City showed considerable interest in Olise last summer, but he opted to commit to a new four-year contract with Palace.
However, this agreement encompasses a release clause, set to become active in the summer, believed to be slightly higher than the £35 million clause in his previous deal, though its activation was intricate.
United believes that Olise could inject new life into their attack, offering both creativity and firepower. They are gearing up to activate his relatively modest release clause.
Having endured a significant hamstring injury while playing for the France Under-21 side in the summer, Olise made a comeback for Palace in mid-November.
Since then, he has swiftly regained form, scoring in his second game back against Luton and tallying four goals and an assist in his last four appearances. This includes a standout performance with a brace against Brentford.
Despite his limited campaign, Olise’s five goals surpass the production of the current first-choice United right-winger Antony, who has yet to score or assist in 21 appearances across all competitions.
