'Exceptional player': Former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick on what makes £65m Chelsea target special

Former Manchester United manager and current Austria national team boss Ralf Rangnick has joined the long list of admirers for Chelsea target Michael Olise this summer.

Last season, Olise recorded 11 assists, the only player outside the top six teams to do so, as Crystal Palace finished 11th under Roy Hodgson. This season, he bagged 10 goals and six assists in 19 appearances for the Eagles.

Born in Hammersmith, London, Olise is eligible to play for England or France and has been called up by Thierry Henry for the Olympic Games next month.

When asked about Olise, Rangnick praised his smile, work ethic, and exceptional talent. He told Getfootballnewsfrance: “He has never been called up by France, but I love Michael Olise. If only he had Austrian origins! He is an exceptional player: quick, a strong dribbler, technically gifted, and he works when he loses the ball. Whenever I saw him play, he had a smile on his face. I am not unhappy that Deschamps didn’t call him up.”

Chelsea still need to agree on a fee with Crystal Palace, but sources say the player is open to moving to West London despite signing a four-year deal with the Eagles last summer. Speculation has been fueled by a release clause in Olise’s contract, with various reports claiming he’d be off if the Eagles received an offer above £65 million this summer.

Newcastle United and Bayern Munich are also reportedly interested. Olise started his career at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre, made his mark at Championship side Reading, and has continued to rise at Crystal Palace, becoming a standout in European football.

Crystal Palace finished strongly in the league last season, winning five of their last six games, with the club desperate to keep their star players, including Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi, both of whom are with the England team at the Euros.