Michael Olise to Chelsea: What are his strengths, weaknesses, and style of play?

According to several reports, Michael Olise to Chelsea is getting closer this summer transfer window. The West London club have reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for the 21-year-old Frenchman.

Surprisingly, after being on the verge of signing Roméo Lavia from Southampton. The Blues are close to bringing another huge talent to Stamford Bridge this summer transfer window.

The Premier League side recently announced the signing of Moisés Caicedo from Brighton Albion. Frankly, Mauricio Pochettino’s side keeps building a dynasty around young and brilliant players.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea have activated the £35 million release clause of Michael Olise’s contract at Crystal Palace. So, the 21-year-old will be leaving the Eagles this season.

Reportedly, negotiations have advanced to the final stage between the two sides. Unbelievably, Olise has already agreed to join the Blues this campaign.

Having been on the verge of joining the Premier League side. Michael will reportedly sign a long-term deal with Chelsea, committing his future to the West London club.

Of course, Michael Olise to Chelsea may look unwise. Because the club have enormous talents in attack. However, the French youngster will definitely boost the team’s offensiveness.

The 21-year-old Frenchman is currently injured. And he won’t be available for competitive matches until October. Regardless, Mauricio Pochettino wants him at Chelsea.

According to Football London, Joe Shields played a crucial role in making Michael Olise to Chelsea happening. He’s also behind Roméo Lavia’s move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Aside from the signing of Nicolas Jackson and Ângelo Gabriel. The Blues have now signed Moisés Caicedo, and are close to signing Roméo Lavia from Southampton and Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.

Chelsea have been waiting to reinforce their attack since June. They have many attackers on their radar, including Rayan Cherki, Mohamed Kudus, and the 21-year-old Frenchman.

However, they have decided to sign the French youngster. Because he’s Premier League proven, and has the ability to play multiple roles in the frontline, showing off his versatility.

In all fairness, Chelsea’s recruitment staff have been amazing since last summer’s transfer window. They have apparently brought diverse talents to the West London club.

Just like Manchester City, the Blues will most likely rule the Premier League for many years. They have enough reinforcements in the squad to make it happen.

Michael Olise’s stats for Crystal Palace (2022-2023, EPL) 

37 games (31 starts)
2 goals
0.04 goals per 90
1.4 shots per 90
0.4 shots on target per 90
11 assists
54.3 touches per 90
11 big chances created
1.9 key passes per 90
78% pass accuracy
0.7 interceptions per 90
1.6 tackles per 90
0.4 clearances per 90
1.5 dribbles per 90
49% total duels won

Michael Olise is actually a special player. He’s just 21-year-old, having registered 11 assists for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last campaign.

Of course, the Eagles were very poor in the league last campaign. However, the French youngster dazzled impressively, helping the team’s performance in the league.

Mauricio Pochettino is definitely building something unstoppable at Chelsea. Despite no European competition this season, the Argentine wants to reinforce the team’s attack.

Potential-wise, Olise has the capability to reach the uttermost top as an attacker. And he can actually achieve that under Mauricio Pochettino.

Reportedly, Manchester City were interested in Michael, wanting to get his signature. However, he rejected the Citizens, desiring to join the West London club.

Therefore, Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia rejected Liverpool for Chelsea. And the 21-year-old Frenchman literally iced out Pep Guardiola’s side for the Blues.

Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are making headlines this summer transfer window. They are most likely to go far in the Premier League this campaign.

Who is Michael Olise? 

Of course, the 21-year-old Frenchman plays for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. However, it is wise for the Blues fans to know some things about the player.

Unbelievably, Olise is of quadruple nationality. Which means he can play for the Nigeria, France, Algeria, and England national teams. However, he’s currently playing for France.

Despite the fact that he’s representing France at the moment. Michael was born in London, where he joined Chelsea Football Club in 2009, spending 6 years at Cobham.

Meanwhile, after six years, he left for Manchester City youth academy. Frankly, the French youngster spent some years with the Citizens, developing his football skills.

In order to continue his football career, the Frenchman joined Reading’s youth academy. And that was where he actually announced himself to the world of football.

Olise had 2 years of brilliant performances at Reading. After that, he joined Crystal Palace in the Premier League, signing for the Eagles for a fee of £8 million.

Despite the fact that he left the Blues at the age of 14-year-old. The player came back to the EPL, now close to making Michael Olise to Chelsea happen this summer.

Michael Olise to Chelsea: What are his strengths and weaknesses?

In the midst of Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke. The Frenchman has the ability to establish himself at Chelsea, in the first-time squad under Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite being just 21-year-old, Olise is a player with a high ceiling. His attacking prowess is exceptional, having seen his all-around statistics at Crystal Palace.

Michael Olise’s versatility is one of his strongest assets. He has the ability to comfortably play several roles in attack, destroying the opponent’s players.

The French youngster can actually play as an attacking midfielder, a left winger, and a right winger. That gave him an edge over many attackers at Crystal Palace.

His versatility will allow him to replace Christopher Nkunku, Mudryk, and Madueke. His attacking prowess makes it easy for him, he’s always irreplaceable in the squad.

Passing; despite being an all-around attacker. The 21-year-old Frenchman is a great passer, he had 78% pass accuracy for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last campaign.

Olise may not be a flawless passer, but he’s obviously above average. As a result, his passing prowess is one of his strengths, considering his all-around performances with the Eagles in the 2022-2023 season.

Pace and acceleration; having been an offensive player. He’s more like Mykhailo Mudryk, usually puts his running ability into action with his footwork, causing havoc inside the opponent’s box.

The French youngster normally dictates the team’s attack with his pace. He can pick up passes, linking up with his teammates, setting up the team for counterattacks.

Dribbling; Michael is a left-footer, which means he operates better from the right-wing. Meanwhile, his dribbling prowess was second-to-none at Crystal Palace last season.

The 21-year-old Frenchman averaged 1.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League in 2022-2023. Of course, it shows that dribbling is his biggest strength as an attacker.

Olise isn’t a regular dribbler, he does his flicks on the pitch in a unique way. That shows why Manchester City and Pep Guardiola want him, after losing Mahrez to a Saudi Arabian club.

Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke are still struggling to settle down at Chelsea. However, Michael knows many things about the Premier League, which means he will dazzle outstandingly at the club.

Creativity; this is one of the things so special about the 21-year-old Frenchman. He spots the unseen space on the pitch, making key passes and creating chances for his teammates.

Michael averaged 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes last season. That shows his level of creativity, he can render the opposition’s players useless with his line-breaking passes.

The player was able to create 11 big chances for the Eagles in the Premier League in 2022-2023. His attacking prowess makes it easy for him to create chances and spaces.

Regardless of the opponent, Olise knows how to space himself out on the pitch. Therefore, he makes himself available to receive passes, putting his dribbling prowess into action.

Defensive contribution; despite the fact that he’s an attacker. The player is defensively sound, usually tracks back to help the team’s performance against the opposition.

Michael averaged 1.6 tackles per 90 minutes last campaign. He’s not only good offensively, but also has a sense of making tackles and interceptions, defending the box.

The French youngster may be 21-year-old. However, he’s physically fit, normally puts his athleticism into action. As a result, his defensive awareness gives him a sense of shielding their territory.

Weaknesses

Even though the France international is flawless offensively. He has some gaps in his qualities, showing his weaknesses as an attacker on the pitch.

Olise isn’t a good finisher, and he’s not really clinical in front of goals. Of course, he averaged 0.04 goals per 90 minutes for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last campaign.

Having started 31 EPL games, he was able to score just 2 goals. Apparently, the player is not a clinical finisher. However, he’s most likely to learn under Mauricio Pochettino.

Frankly, Michael can learn from the likes of Jackson, Mudryk, Sterling, and the rest. His finishing skills aren’t good enough, but there’s enough room for improvement for the 21-year-old Frenchman.

Also, Olise is poor at aerial dueling. Perhaps because of his height, he doesn’t have the ability to contend for the ball in the air, which is one of his obvious weaknesses as an attacker.

Meanwhile, he would need to stand out aerially, so as to be able to win long passes or crosses. Nevertheless, he’s most likely to improve at Chelsea under the Argentine gaffer in the league.

In addition, Michael is more of an injury-prone player. He’s currently on the sidelines as a result of a hamstring injury, unavailable for months at Crystal Palace.

Of course, he got injured during the Eagles preseason this campaign. His injury record doesn’t actually look good enough, considering the other Blues players who are injury-prone.

Michael Olise to Chelsea: What is his position? 

Well, the 21-year-old Frenchman plays as an attacking midfielder. He operates brilliantly and exceptionally from the midfield, as he loves to have enough space around him on the pitch.

As regards his versatility, he can also play on the left and right flanks. Despite the fact that he’s a left footer, the player can operate comfortably from either flank up front.

Mauricio Pochettino is wise enough to sign Olise. He knows the player can easily be a backup for multiple positions up front, particularly AM, LW, and RW in the front.

Chelsea chose Michael over Mohamed Kudus because he’s proven in the Premier League. At the same time, his versatility usually makes him an important player in the squad as an attacker.

What is Michael Olise’s style of play? 

As an attacker, the 21-year-old Frenchman loves to have enough freedom on the pitch. He likes to roam on the field, making passes and creating chances.

Speaking of Michael Olise to Chelsea. He likes to cut into the opponent’s box with his left foot, causing havoc and destroying the opponent’s players on the pitch.

The player is more like Eden Hazard, in the sense that he usually uses his body to distract the opponent. The French youngster uses his body to guide himself when dribbling.

His flexibility and physicality allow him to be unpredictable on the pitch. He normally fakes the opponent’s players with his movements, rendering them useless with his passes.

In the case of putting his dribbling prowess into action. His athleticism gives him an edge over the opponent when carrying the ball. He makes it happen to get past the opponent’s players.

Like Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke. Olise loves 1v1 situations when dribbling, because he will have enough space around him to cut left or right. He’s actually a good dribbler, regardless of his age.

Despite being poor in front of goals. The 21-year-old Frenchman likes to shoot; his ball-striking ability is actually impressive, and he can get better at Chelsea this season.

Also, Michael likes to make progressive passes. Which means, he loves to move the ball forward due to his footwork as an attacker. The player is more like Mateo Kovacic in that sense.

Speaking of Olise’s style of play. He does get fouled often, because of his dribbling and cutting skills. That’s why he has many things in common with Eden Hazard.

In addition, the player likes to make long passes. At least, his passing skills are above average, which makes it easier for him. He usually makes long passes to connect with his teammates.

As an attacking midfielder, Michael lives to setup counterattacks threat. Which explains why he was able to register 11 assists for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season.

Lastly, Olise likes to cross and play set-pieces. His crossing ability normally causes trouble inside the opponent’s box, because his crosses and set-pieces are always accurate.