Lesser-known Olise touted as ‘future Reece James’ already plays for Chelsea as Crystal Palace bid confirmed

Chelsea are set to continue a summer of big money spending after triggering the £35 million release clause of Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.

The 21-year-old hotshot is one of the Premier League's most exciting prospects but is currently out of action having had surgery on a torn hamstring picked up on international duty for the Frande Under-21 side this summer.

Olise is now free to discuss a move with Chelsea and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that the winger has 'already said yes' to the club and that the deal is in the final stages.

The Blues have splurged almost £600 million on 16 new players this summer and fees for Olise and Romeo Lavia are set to see that total climb even higher.

Chelsea supporters will no doubt be excited to Olise, known for his pace and trickery, feature as part of Mauricio Pochettino's plans at Stamford Bridge, but may not know that the club already have Olise on their books.

The Crystal Palace man's 18-year-old younger brother Richard Olise has come through the Chelsea youth system as a promising full-back touted as a future replacement for Reece James.

The younger Olise has been in the Chelsea academy since playing at under-9 level - Michael was also in the youth system for seven years between 2009 and 2016. The club website states: "A very calm and composed right-sided defender who has the ability to both defend and attack, he has all the attributes of a modern-day full-back."

The defender has impressed for the Chelsea and England under-18 side and has earned a reputation for his attacking runs from full-back. His contract at the club is believed to be in place until June 2024.

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson had previously accepted that Olise's future at Selhurst Park was 'completely out of our hands'. He told Sky Sports: "No one knows really at this moment in time.

"If there are clubs who are desperately or seriously preparing a bid and tempting him away then he'll have a decision to make. I can only wait and see if there are clubs who are going to come in and make those bids and tempt him away, and in that situation what decision is he going to make, because he also knows that we are really very keen to keep him here.

"We really believe this is a good place for him and that we can provide him with a very good platform to go forward in his career. But unfortunately, these matters are totally out of my hands - everything will depend I suppose on what happens in the future.

"You can never be certain as a manager that the players you've got, you like and you want are always definitely going to stay because we have a transfer market.

"I can only hope that transfer market doesn't on this occasion punish us by persuading one of our very, very important key players to move."