How Chelsea can rectify Michael Olise summer transfer mistake amid new release clause lifeline
In the 20 months since Todd Boehly's arrival, Chelsea have been the kings of the transfer market. If they want a player, they'll go out and get that player — no matter what.
Or at least, that's how it feels. Almost every player they've been heavily linked with they've managed to secure, whether it's Premier League rivals like Liverpool competing for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, or the giants in mainland Europe sniffing after Enzo Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku — all of whom the Blues managed to secure.
However, surprisingly, the one transfer the Blues have failed to pull off in that time was the one when they were in a one-horse race with themselves. Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is once again being linked with a move back to Stamford Bridge, with the former Cobham academy star thriving under Roy Hodgson since returning from his injury earlier on in the season.
He's threatened to become one of those fabled stars that Chelsea let go of too early. The 21-year-old looks set to join the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Nathan Ake, all of whom have gone on to become greats in their respective positions. While the Blues are yet to bring any of the other three back to the club, they are trying with Olise — but they've tried in the past.
Over the summer, it was all but a guarantee that Chelsea were to swoop in and sign the winger after activating his release clause worth £35million at the time, with Eagles boss Hodgson solemnly looking at the possibility of losing both Wilfried Zaha and Olise in the same window.
But incredibly, the star signed a new four-year deal after being convinced to stay by Palace chairman Steve Parish who announced the agreement in a social media post. He wrote: «I’m absolutely delighted
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