Paris Saint-Germain are in the news for their reported interest in Nigeria national football team prospect Michael Olise.
The 21-year-old moved to the Premier League in 2021 to play for Crystal Palace after Reading received £8.37 million from the Eagles which was his release clause at the time. He has since dazzled and has attracted the attention of several clubs, who have sounded out his entourage about a transfer.
They will be flattered by the reported interest of the French Ligue 1 leaders especially as the interest is based on their need to replace a player like Lionel Messi.
Olise to PSG could fill French quota at club
Michael Olise and his family, along with his agents are no stranger to transfer news and speculations.
🚨 PSG are preparing an offer for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
The French club are looking to strengthen the squad by signing a centre-back, midfielder, two wingers and a striker this summer and they plan to part ways with Neymar.
(Source: @MailSport) pic.twitter.com/EL2Yk9Oo1E
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 9, 2023
Since his breakout year at Reading in 2019 after spending three years in their youth set-up, he has dazzled English football crowds. Many have touted him as one of the best young midfielders to come out of England.
However, the Nigeria Super Eagles prospect has represented the country of his mother's birth, France, at under-18 and under-21 levels. This has sparked a battle between Nigeria, the country of his father's birth, England, the country of his birth, and France, the country of his mother's birth for the right to cap him as a senior international.
Nigerian football news media claims that he was contacted several times in 2021 and that his father also wants him to play for the Super Eagles.
It is also understood that he is being considered by José Peseiro, who could include him in his preliminary squad for AFCON 2023 should the team scale past the AFCON 2023 qualifiers fixtures.
In the meantime, PSG believe that his affiliation with the France national team, albeit at u-21 level, makes him a great candidate for the new French talent-focused team they are building for the future.
Oliseh links to PSG could hurt Arsenal, other PL clubs, sources claim
Olise has been a transfer target for Arsenal in the past. The Gunners reportedly followed his development as a youth footballer and earmarked him for a potential transfer in the near future.
However, he could be headed to PSG to replace Lionel Messi, who is on his way out of the club. The Argentina international would have spent two full seasons at the club when the Ligue 1 trophy is handed to them. However, rifts that occurred in the last few months have caused their relationship to break down, leading to a halt to all attempts to sign him for another year.
They are also bound to lose Brazilian winger Neymar in the summer and will be short of attacking talent for the 2023/24 season.
Olise joins Eintracht Frankfurt man Randal Kolo Muani as a transfer target for the Parisians and he will cost at least £35 million. That will be significant income for Palace, who signed him for less than £10 million.
It remains to be seen what the Eagles will do about this potential transfer, seeing as Olise is still tied to them until June 2026.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
