Sir Jim Ratcliffe dealt blow as top Man Utd target tipped to join Man City
Manchester United 's hopes of making Michael Olise the first signing of the Jim Ratcliffe era won't be straightforward, with former Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce claiming he could see the youngster at United's neighbours.
Olise turned down interest from Chelsea over the summer, signing a new deal with Crystal Palace. Mirror Football understands that deal includes a release clause in the region of £60m, due to take effect at the end of the season, but the France under-21 star has already attracted plenty of attention since returning from injury in the autumn.
Despite playing just nine games, Olise is just one goal adrift of Palace top scorer Odsonne Edouard with five in the league. He has helped make up for the summer departure of Wilfried Zaha as Roy Hodgson's side look to keep their heads above water.
Even without a release clause, summer interest in the former Reading star was always going to be likely. In Pearce's mind, though, City is the obvious move.
“Not Man United… Man City," Pearce told talkSPORT when asked about Olise making the step up. "I looked at the way he played against Chelsea especially, he got beaten on the night but he was by far the best player on the pitch in my opinion.
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“The way he dealt with the ball, his understanding of when to keep the ball, all of those type of things. I could see him in a City shirt.”
United have a gap on the wing after selling Anthony Elanga over the summer and letting Jadon Sancho rejoin Borussia Dortmund on loan. However, manager Erik ten Hag has given his backing to expensive recruit Antony despite the Brazilian's failure to score in 21 appearances this season.
Where will Michael Olise be playing next season? Have your say in the comments section
Michael Olise has scored five goals in nine Premier League appearances this season (Getty Images)“Every club needs players that get the crowd buzzing and we have been blessed with Wilf through the years and now we have Olise and also we have Eberechi Eze," Palace boss Hodgson said of Olise before Palace's match against Chelsea in December. "We have two players like that who can do that job and get the crowd buzzing and I think the crowd are very much behind the team and I think they will recognise that there are some good moments ahead for this football club.”
Olise scored in that game and added two more against Brentford in the Eagles' final match of 2023. He wasn't involved for the FA Cup third round meeting with Everton, missing the game through injury, and neither side created much in their goalless draw.
Palace and Everton will have to do it all over again on January 17, with a home game against Luton Town or Bolton Wanderers awaiting the winners. Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be available after the red card he picked up in the initial game was overturned.
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