Manchester United could reportedly face competition from Juventus if they are to prise Michael Olise away from Crystal Palace this summer.
Alongside fellow highly-rated Eagles teammates Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze, the France Under-21's contributions have been credited with keeping Palace's heads above water in the Premier League.
Injuries have restricted Olise to just 11 appearances in the current Premier League season, but he has amassed an impressive six goals and three assists since making his first appearance of the top-flight campaign back in November.
Olise was beginning to hit his stride before injury cruelly struck again, though, as he was withdrawn in a 3-2 beating of Sheffield United due to discomfort before being named on the bench for the Eagles' subsequent clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.
With the Seagulls cruising to victory in the M23 derby, then-manager Roy Hodgson made the peculiar decision to introduce Olise, which proved to be a disastrous call as the winger suffered another hamstring injury just 11 minutes into his cameo appearance.
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Olise is not expected to return from his latest affliction until the start of April at the earliest, but in spite of his struggles for fitness, he is expected to garner plenty of interest in the upcoming transfer window.
Chelsea fought tooth and nail to sign Olise last summer and triggered a £35m release clause in his previous deal, but the former Reading man snubbed the Blues in favour of signing a new contract with Palace, and he is not due to become a free agent until 2027.
However, Palace apparently shook hands on a £60m release clause with Olise's camp during negotiations last summer, and new Manchester United stakeholder Sim Jim Ratcliffe is apparently keen to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils will not have a clear run at Olise's signature, though, as The Telegraph claims that Serie A powerhouses Juventus have also taken a liking to Olise and have a trick up their sleeve in order to steal a march on their Premier League foes.
The report states that the Bianconeri could try to strike a player-plus-cash deal involving 20-year-old attacker Matias Soule, who has excelled during a loan spell with Frosinone in the 2023-24 season.
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Soule - whose favoured position is also on the right wing - has scored 10 goals and provided two assists in the 2023-24 Serie A campaign, including one goal and one assist in a 3-2 loss to AC Milan earlier this month.
The Argentina Under-20 international is still contracted to Juve until 2026, but the Old Lady would apparently be open to parting ways with the attacker, whom Palace are said to be interested in.
Soule has only made 21 appearances for the Juventus first team so far - scoring once - while Olise boasts 12 goals and 22 assists from 82 matches in a Crystal Palace jersey.
Man United could be in the market for a new winger if the exiled Jadon Sancho departs permanently this summer, although he apparently does not expect to stay at Borussia Dortmund beyond the end of the season.
Offers could also be entertained for the under-performing Antony, while Facundo Pellistri and Hannibal Mejbri's long-term futures are not entirely clear either.
Ben Knapton
