Liverpool, Leeds ready to pay £8m in January to sign Championship star
Reading are resigned to losing teenage playmaker Michael Olise next month and Liverpool and Leeds are reportedly keen on a deal.
Football Insider report that Olise has impressed the Premier League pair sufficiently for them both to advance their interest ahead of the January window.
Olise has been a key figure in the Royals’ strong start to the Championship season, with four goals and seven assists in 20 appearances.
Reading are hopeful they can extend Olise’s contract which expires in June 2022, and increase his buyout fee.
The report claims Olise has an £8m release clause in his contract and both Liverpool and Leeds are considering a deal.
TEAMtalk exclusively revealed in October that Olise was a man in demand.
Olise was already being watched by Arsenal, Leeds and Wolves, before Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton along with Chelsea and Manchester City – all added him to their scouting list.
Interestingly Olise spent time with Chelsea and City as a youngster, before joining Reading.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Monaco and Napoli have also shown an interest in a player, who many scouts believe is the best prospect outside the Premier League.
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic has been mightily impressed by the player.
Speaking after the win over Forest, Paunovic said: “Michael is super talented and he had a very good game on Saturday.
‘Huge potential’
“When the team plays well, individuals will pop up and their talent, like in his case. Michael knows very well we acknowledge his talent and always support him but he has to keep learning.
“He still needs to grow and has things that he can implement soon in the future and be an even better player.
“This is what we are encouraging – not to get content with what he is right now but what he can be.
“He just has to keep going and maturing. Consistency is the main thing for the young players and that’s what we are looking to give him.
“He is very smart and has to learn quickly. We all see huge potential in him and having an impact in our club, delivering to the team and to our fans all his talent and capabilities.
“But we don’t think it is good for him to think he has done something already.
“Being humble, being focused; he loves football, he loves learning and he loves training so he has to give context to all that and that means he has to become a competitor and when he gets to that level, I’m sure everyone is going to be surprised with what he can do.”
