A bid worth £50m is “unlikely to cut the mustard” if Manchester City table such a proposal for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, according to The Athletic‘s Sam Lee.
The reliable journalist claims that if the Citizens and rivals Chelsea both make formal approaches to sign the 21-year-old, the player could prove to be prohibitively expensive.
A replacement for Riyad Mahrez is needed, after the Algerian international left the Etihad for Saudi Arabia last month, and Olise “fits the profile” for what they are looking for.
However, the cost of signing the Frenchman may complicate matters. It was originally reported that there was a £35m release clause in his contract but that information is clearly incorrect, based on Palace’s reported demands.
City also have another issue to consider
Olise tore his hamstring playing for France at the European Under 21 Championships in June and he hasn’t played any part in preseason.
It means that the forward won’t be available for the start of the campaign and it may be too much of a gamble for City to take on the player, especially if Palace maintain their stance on his asking price.
His valuation and fitness situation may lead the treble winners to consider other solutions. Other transfer targets could be looked at but there is also a scenario where a winger is not brought in at all.
Changing the positions of current squad players
Following the departure of captain Ilkay Gundogan, it was widely assumed that Bernardo Silva would be moved infield to fill the gap vacated by the German international.
However, there is now a possibility that the Portuguese international stays out wide and another central midfielder is recruited instead. Alternatively, Cole Palmer may stay on and provide cover rather than being sent out on loan. Neither of those situations are ideal and fans will be hoping that the club ultimately decide to go back into the transfer market.
