Chelsea have reportedly activated the £35million release clause in the contract of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise as Todd Boehly’s spending spree continues.
The France under-21 international, 21, is expected to become the latest summer arrival at Stamford Bridge, The Athletic reported.
Mail Sport’s Transfer Confidential column revealed on Monday that Chelsea had stepped up their pursuit of Olise.
He was formerly an academy player at Chelsea between 2009 and 2016.
Olise is currently recovering from a torn hamstring suffered while playing for France at the Under-21 European Championship earlier this summer, which will keep him sidelined until the end of September.
Chelsea have reportedly activated the £35million release clause for Palace’s Michael Olise
The France under-21 winger is expected to become the latest summer arrival at Chelsea
Chelsea’s spending under American owner Todd Boehly is approaching the £1billion mark
He would be the latest incoming at the west London club as American owner Todd Boehly once again splashes the cash.
They have just concluded a British record £115m deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and are chasing the £50m Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
If they complete a deal for Lavia, Chelsea’s summer spending would be pushing the £400m mark after they also signed Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu and Angelo Gabriel.
Olise’s purchase would also push the total amount spent since Boehly took over close to the £1billion mark.
Since arriving from Reading two years ago in a deal worth £8.37m, Olise has established himself as an important figure in Roy Hodgson’s team.
In April, he became the youngest player to assists with three goals from open play in a single Premier League match when Palace thrashed Leeds 5-1.
And in May, Olise became the first Palace player to register 10 assists in a single Premier League season. His final tally of 11 was the fourth-highest in the top-flight.
Chelsea have focused on boosting the midfield options at new coach Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal in recent days.
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Moises Caicedo after agreeing to a British record £115million deal with the Brighton midfielder – edging out stiff competition from Liverpool
They gazumped Liverpool to sign Ecuador international Caicedo, 21, from Brighton, with the signing confirmed on Monday.
The Blues are also set to beat Liverpool to the signing of Lavia from Southampton after the midfielder rejected a move to Anfield.
Pochettino was in need of additional right wing options, hence the signing of Olise. Hakim Ziyech hasn’t been handed a squad number, leaving only Noni Madueke as a natural right-sided winger.
Raheem Sterling played on that side in the season-opening 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, with Reece James behind him as a right wing-back.
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