Pochettino in dreamland as Chelsea reach £39m agreement for Prem assist king ‘seduced by the project’

Chelsea are reportedly on the brink of a fifth summer signing after tabling an offer worth £4m more than the exit clause in the contract of a star shining bright at a London rival.

The Blues are hoping for a much better season under the guidance of the experienced Mauricio Pochettino. Following a year on the sidelines and after his PSG dismissal, the Argentine is back in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

And the former Tottenham manager, alongside co-owner Todd Boehly, has wasted little time in removing some of Chelsea’s deadwood.

Indeed, the Blues have generated sales worth close to €250m (£216m) with 14 players having departed this summer.

In return, Pochettino has so far made four signings, with one of those in Christopher Nkunku, already agreed before the Argentine’s arrival.

But in allowing the likes of Matteo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount to leave, Chelsea now have a few holes to fill in midfield.

However, according to reports in France, the Blues are on the cusp of bringing in one new signing immediately in the form of Michael Olise.

The Crystal Palace star enjoyed an excellent 2022/23 campaign with Crystal Palace, having moved there from Reading in July 2021.

Indeed, to illustrate his abilities, Olise contributed to 13 goals – with 11 of those assists – in 37 Premier League appearances.

Now RMC Sport claims Chelsea have submitted an offer worth £39m to bring Olise to Stamford Bridge.

And with a release clause sitting at £35m, Crystal Palace are powerless to prevent the star making the move.

The Eagles are, understandably, keen to keep the France U21 international, having offered him a new deal on the arrangement that is currently due to expire in 2026.

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Chelsea closing in on Michael Olise signing

And in proposing he signs a new deal, the Eagles also want to remove the 21-year-old’s exit clause.

That move came amid links with Olise to Arsenal, PSG and Manchester City.

And having already lost Wilfried Zaha this summer – the long-serving winger is on the verge of a free transfer to Galatasaray – the loss of Olise would come as another major blow.

However, RMC Sport now believes a move to Chelsea is closing in.

Pochettino has reportedly made it clear he wants to bring the playmaker to Stamford Bridge this summer. In return, Olise is said to have been ‘seduced by the project’ at Stamford Bridge and the role he would play under Pochettino.

During the Argentine’s last spell in the Premier League, with Tottenham, he honed and crafted the early career of another top young star at the time in Dele Alli.

Now Pochettino wants to bring out the best in Olise at Chelsea and, in return, help the Blues move up the table once again.

Boehly is no stranger to paying above and beyond the release clauses in various star’s deals. By doing so, he tries to then arrange more favourable payment terms in Chelsea’s favour. It also ensures the Blues are less likely to be gazumped by any of their rivals.

If the move goes through – and agreeing personal terms for Olise should not be an issue – he will become their fifth signing of the summer.

As well as Nkunku, Pochettino has also secured the services of three promising wingers in Nicolas Jackson, Angelo and Diego Moreira, though only Jackson is expected to have an immediate impact in the first team.

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