Matt Woosnam of The Athletic reports that Patrick Vieira first signing is edging closer with Michael Olise’s Crystal Palace move looking to be a formality. With only one year remaining on his current contract with Reading, Olise will make the step up to the Premier League from the Championship.
Michael Olise’s Crystal Palace Move Looking a Done Deal
Patrick Vieira’s Overhaul at Palace
Former Arsenal legend Vieira was appointed as Palace’s new manager after Roy Hodgson opted to stand down at the end of the 2020/21 Premier League season, having guided them to safety once more with a 14th placed finish.
Vieira has joined the club with higher aspirations and will be looking to the top half of the table, and it appears his first signing is close with Olise joining from Reading.
Attacking Intent
Olise has mainly played as an attacking midfielder for the Royals, behind a striker or on the left-hand side, although he has also shown that he is equally as capable of playing on the right-hand side of the midfield as he showed to great effect in December 2020, scoring a long-range strike in the 89th minute to take all three points from Queens Park Rangers.
He likes to play on the front foot and scored seven goals and added twelve assists last season, but it wasn’t quite enough to sneak into the playoffs.
France and England
Olise is a France U18 international but he does also qualify for England as he was born in London, so he will have a decision to make at some point, especially if he can turn in the type of high flying performances he has produced for Reading in the Premier League with Palace.
Should the deal now proceed as predicted it will be a fee in the region of £8 million with a five year deal on the table for the youngster.
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