Chelsea get positive sign over Olise deal

Chelsea’s prospects of signing Michael Olise from Crystal Palace seem to have improved as Newcastle, one of their rivals for the former France U21 winger, have shifted their focus to signing Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa .

The Blues have stepped up their interest in Olise since the beginning of the month, yet face competition from Manchester United and Newcastle in order to land a player who turned in a sequence of eye-catching performances in the Premier League last term.

Article continues under the video GiveMeSport reports that Newcastle are ready to drop out of the running for the 22-year-old amid reports that they will instead step up their assault on Chiesa, whose future at Serie A giants Juventus is looking uncertain.

It is stated that the St James’ Park outfit appreciate their move for Olise was always “very ambitious” and that the Italy international is a more realistic alternative. Curiously, it is claimed that one of the reasons that Newcastle are looking at Chiesa is the standard of club chasing the Palace star, yet Liverpool and Man Utd are both quoted as having an interest in the Italian.

Nevertheless, this leaves Chelsea in a stronger position when it comes to negotiating for Olise.

Chelsea in Olise pole

It had previously been hinted that a lack of Champions League football meant that a release clause in the player’s contract was not open to them, yet Ben Jacobs has indicated that Enzo Maresca’s side are not at any disadvantage compared to their rivals in this particular transfer battle.

Chelsea have already completed the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer this summer, while Fabrizio Romano has announced that a deal for Willian Estevao is all but completed. The indications, meanwhile, are that they are winning the race for Olise, having “blown Man Utd out of the water” . As the dust settles, the France youth international increasingly looks like he is heading for Stamford Bridge.