Second most prolific winger in the Premier League – Why Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise will be hot property this summer

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13 goal involvements in last 9 starts 

For pure football enthusiasts seeing Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze line up together is a thing of beauty. In Crystal Palace’s 4-0 demolition of Manchester United on Monday night, the pair started together for just the seventh time in the league this season. Palace have won five of those games. Whilst both players shone against the Red Devils and tormented United’s defence, Olise really stole the show. His brace took his goals tally to nine Premier League goals for the season, and means he has 13 direct goal involvements in his last nine starts.

Injuries have plagued the France U21 international’s season, with the 22-year-old only able to start 12 Premier League games for the Eagles this season. However, when he’s fit and available, few young wingers outshine Olise – not only do his statistics per 90 minutes have him up there with the best young wingers in Europe, but on the eye, few players excite more. Former Liverpool defender now turned pundit Jamie Carragher claimed that both Olise and Eze “could play for any team in the Premier League”. For Olise, a release clause of around €70m activates this summer, and there could be plenty of suitors.

Michael Olise’s brilliant season when he’s been available for Crystal Palace

As touched upon already, staying fit has been a real issue for Olise this season, and is perhaps the only reason that could put off potential suitors this summer. Persistent hamstring issues has seen the young winger unable to make the Premier League matchday squad on 19 occasions this season. Nevertheless, he has played in Palace’s last six league games, and when he has been fit and firing, has been an almost constant threat. As can be seen in the graphic above, only Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has a higher goals per 90 minutes ratio among all wingers aged 22 or younger in Europe’s top five leagues to have played 1000+ minutes. Nine of Palmer’s goals have also been penalties.

If we compare Olise to all wingers in the Premier League this term it’s a similar story. As can be identified above, once again only Palmer has a higher goals per 90 minutes ratio than Olise’s 0.65. The Crystal Palace man beats Mohamed Salah (0.61), Phil Foden (0.50) and Bukayo Saka (0.46). It’s obviously over a smaller sample size than the others, but it should also be taken into account that Olise is doing it for a team far lower down the Premier League table than the other players at the top of that list. Olise currently represents France at U21 level, but is still eligible to play for England should he decide to switch his allegiance. 

Manager Oliver Glasner has done a fantastic job following his appointment in late February. The Austrian has guided Palace to 18 points from 11 games, and taken the club well out of the relegation equation. After Olise’s second goal he ran straight over to Glasner and embraced his manager. After the game Glasner revealed why, “We spoke after the Fulham game when he was under the shower, and he was a little bit disappointed because he had three or four shots and the shots were blocked or he hit straight at the keeper. I said, ‘maybe try near-post and maybe then the goalkeepers are surprised,’ and in this situation he shot near-post and scored.” Glasner is certainly bringing out the best in Olise.

When looking at some other attacking metrics this season, once again Olise’s importance is also evident. According to Wyscout, Olise is fifth in the entire Premier League for both shots per 90 minutes (3.26) and dribbles per 90 minutes (8.04). He also has the fourth best dribble success rate in the division with 68.47 of dribbles successful. The young winger also is sixth across the entire league when it comes to fouls suffered per 90 minutes this season, with 2.68 per game. Olise boasts a current market value of €50 million, and there’s no doubt he will be hot property this summer, but which clubs may look to sign the 22-year old?

Which clubs could buy Michael Olise this summer?

Chelsea thought they had struck a bargain last summer when they triggered Olise’s release clause of just €40.8m at that time. However, Olise agreed a new deal with the South London club which reportedly saw his release clause rise to around €70m this summer. Olise has been linked with a host of top European clubs throughout the last 12 months, with Arsenal, Manchester United and PSG all rumoured to have a very keen interest in the Crystal Palace winger. 

The latest rumour however, has seen Newcastle United linked with the 22 year old. The Magpies have reportedly re-ignited their interest in Olise, and are hoping their late pursuit of European football plus the ambition of their project can persuade Olise to trade London for the North East this summer. Newcastle have reportedly been monitoring the winger since his time at Reading. There’s no doubt Olise will have plenty of suitors this summer, with the only real red flag around him his injury record. If a top team can keep him fit, they could have a superstar on their hands.