Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate confirms England are keeping tabs on 22-year-old attacker

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 22 May 2024

England head coach Gareth Southgate says that Crystal Palace attacker Michael Olise could turn out for the Three Lions in the future.

England head coach Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Michael Olise is being monitored, with the attacker an option for the Three Lions in the future.

The 22-year-old had his injury problems during the 2023-24 campaign, but he still managed to contribute 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace.

There is currently a host of speculation surrounding Olise's future, with Manchester United and Chelsea both thought to be interested in signing him during the summer transfer window.

While his future at club level is unclear, the same can also be said at international level, as he is yet to earn a senior cap for any of the four national teams that he is able to represent.

Olise was born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, so he is eligible to feature for England, Nigeria, France and Algeria.

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise during the warm up before the match on April 21, 2024 © Reuters

Southgate confirms Olise is a future option for England

The attacker has represented France at Under-18s and Under-21s level, but he was not included in the senior squad for Euro 2024.

Olise will therefore have a summer off, but Southgate has said that the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City youngster could turn out for England in the future.

"He would have to have a transfer of association," Southgate told reporters at his press conference when questioned on him. "That process would take quite a while.

"He is obviously a very good player, he hasn't made their squad. They might be taking him to the Olympics, I don't know.

"He is a player we should have an interest in because he is a very good player but there is no way you could do all of that in time for the Euros."

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise scores their first goal on May 11, 2024 © Reuters

Will Olise leave Palace this summer?

Olise scored three times and registered two assists in his final three Premier League appearances of the campaign, and his return from injury kickstarted a brilliant run for the Eagles.

Indeed, Palace won six and drew one of their final seven league matches of the campaign, with Olise a key contributor to their success.

Eagles head coach Oliver Glasner recently said that he was confident his club would be able to keep hold of Olise this summer amid the speculation surrounding his future.

However, there is thought to be a release clause in the attacker's contract, and the interest from Man United is believed to be serious, with the club's new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe said to be heavily in favour of a deal.

It is therefore difficult to imagine Palace keeping Olise this summer, and it will be fascinating to see what happens with the playmaker at both club and international level.