£60–100 million__ Chelsea are positioning themselves to land one of the Premier League’s brightest attacking talents
Following Chelsea’s links to Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, the Blues appear to have shifted their focus to a bigger prize:Michael Olise. With reports suggesting the Crystal Palace winger has a release clause in the region of £60–100 million__Chelsea are positioning themselves of the Premier League’s brightest attacking talents — one who could be Enzo Maresca’s answer to Florian Wirtz.
Olise has been a standout for Palace since joining from Reading, particularly in the 2023/24 season, despite injury setbacks. His creativity, flair, and vision have made him a constant threat in the final third, registering 10 goals and 6 assists in just 19 league appearances. These are Wirtz-esque numbers, especially when you factor in his ability to operate between the lines, dictate tempo, and create opportunities from nothing — traits Maresca covets in his system.
Under Maresca, Chelsea are expected to shift toward a more structured, possession-heavy style inspired by Pep Guardiola, with whom Maresca worked closely at Manchester City. That model thrives on intelligent, technically gifted players who can break down low blocks and maintain control under pressure — a description that fits Olise perfectly.
While Bynoe-Gittens offers raw potential and explosive pace, Olise provides a more refined, ready-made profile. His maturity on the ball and decision-making in key areas make him an ideal fit for a team looking to compete at the top level again. With Cole Palmer already excelling from the right, Olise could be deployed centrally or on the opposite flank, giving Maresca the sort of tactical flexibility Wirtz gives Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.
Signing Olise would also be a statement of intent from Chelsea’s hierarchy. After an erratic recruitment strategy in recent windows, adding a “world-class” prospect with proven Premier League quality would show a shift toward targeted, sensible squad building.
Of course, competition is fierce. Manchester United and others are reportedly circling. But Chelsea’s project under Maresca — youthful, technically focused, and long-term
