Manchester City receive major transfer boost following release clause clarity concerning Premier League star

Premier League champions Manchester City have received what could be a major boost to their hopes of signing Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise this summer.

Officials at the Etihad Stadium are on the search for fresh recruitment in either midfield or out wide, following the departure of Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli leaving a hole in Pep Guardiola’s first-team core.

While the ideal replacement would be a like-for-like positionally, City could be open to signing a new name in the centre of the park, allowing for Guardiola to shift either Phil Foden or Bernardo Silva into the right-wing role for the most part of the forthcoming campaign.

Manchester City have started work on outlining a shortlist of potential targets out wide, and alongside Rennes and Belgium international winger Jeremy Doku, the Premier League champions are also keen on France youth star Michael Olise.

In a fresh development on a possible transfer saga, a new piece of information has surfaced this week that could act as a huge boost to Manchester City’s hopes of signing their former youth academy name in the coming weeks, without the need for a bidding war.

According to the information of The Athletic, a release clause was included in Michael Olise’s original Crystal Palace contract signed in July 2021 and running until the summer of 2026. The activation of such clause would permit the 21-year-old to speak to interested clubs.

It is further revealed that Olise’s release clause is worth £35 million, and while there had been suggestions last Autumn that such a term was removed from his Selhurst Park agreement, The Athletic confirm on Thursday that it remains in place.

Manchester City are known to be interested in the player following the departure of Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli, while Premier League rivals Chelsea are also watching his situation intently and could make a move themselves.

Elsewhere, and according to The Athletic this week, PSG were also credited with an interest earlier in the summer, but no offer has since materialised. It is further clarified that at present, Palace officials have received no formal bids from any club for Michael Olise’s signature.

Any move from Manchester City for players in the coming weeks is only likely to follow their pursuit of Josko Gvardiol, who is expected to finalise a big-money move from RB Leipzig in the coming days.

City reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side on an approximate £78 million fee for the Croatia international, with the move likely to spark an exit for out-of-favour central defender Aymeric Laporte, should the Premier League champions receive an acceptable offer.

Speculation concerning the future of the Spain international has been few and far between, although the understanding in various quarters is that Laporte would favour a return to Spain ahead of elsewhere in Europe, should he be provided with options.