Transfer Centre

Arsenal-linked Michael Olise 'to stay at Crystal Palace this summer'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 17 April 2023

Arsenal-linked Crystal Palace attacker Michael Olise reportedly plans to snub interest from the Gunners to stay at Selhurst Park for the 2023-24 season.

Crystal Palace attacker Michael Olise reportedly plans to snub interest from Arsenal in order to continue at Selhurst Park next season.

The 21-year-old is believed to have attracted the attention of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who views Olise as the ideal backup option to Bukayo Saka.

Olise has gone from strength to strength since joining the Eagles from Reading in 2021, scoring two goals and setting up eight more in 30 Premier League matches this season.

Earlier this month, the attacker became the youngest Premier League player in history to register three assists from open play in one match, doing so in Palace's 5-1 thumping of Leeds United.

Olise has played every minute of the Eagles' three-game winning run under Roy Hodgson, and Palace are bracing themselves for summer bids for the France Under-21 international.

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise reacts, January 23, 2022 © Reuters

However, The Sun claims that Olise will not consider an exit from Crystal Palace this summer, leaving Arsenal and other Champions League-chasing clubs disappointed.

The 21-year-old supposedly believes that Selhurst Park is the best place to develop and hone his skills next season, and he is contracted to the Eagles until the summer of 2026.

While Hodgson's side are happy to hear that Olise wants to stay put, it has been claimed that a fee of £40m could tempt the Eagles into parting ways with the France Under-21 international this summer, in spite of Wilfried Zaha's expected departure on a free transfer.

That fee could lower to £35m if Palace are relegated to the Championship, and Olise could have a change of heart in that scenario, as he does not want to return to second-tier football.

Victories over Leicester City, Leeds and Southampton have propelled the 12th-placed Eagles away from danger, but they are not out of the woods completely, sitting nine points clear of the drop zone with seven games left to go.

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise in action with Norwich City's Kenny McLean on February 9, 2022 © Reuters

Olise has registered a total of six goals and 16 assists in 64 matches for Crystal Palace over the past couple of seasons, and despite earning two caps for France at Under-21 level, he could still represent England, Algeria or Nigeria internationally.

With Marquinhos on loan at Norwich City, Arsenal currently have Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson capable of deputising on the right for Saka, but the latter is out of contract at the end of June and is supposedly being monitored by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Nelson has only been on the fringes of the Arsenal team under Arteta and is yet to start a Premier League game this season, but he has made a crucial impact off the bench in wins over Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

Arsenal are understood to be discussing a new contract with Nelson, who has expressed his desire to continue in North London despite his lack of minutes.