Crystal Palace provide transfer update as Chelsea and Manchester City circle for £50m star

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has plainly stated they have a fight on their hands to keep hold of winger Michael Olise with Chelsea and Manchester City both declaring their interest in him.

Manchester City have lost Riyad Mahrez and are in the market for a winger who is comfortable at taking on his man and has the ability to change games with the France under-21 star seen as the ideal play for Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea have a three-man list that is topped by Olise with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, all three are seen as generational talents but one will eventually come through.

For Palace, they have just lost Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray and will have to box smartly to replace him. Still, manager Roy Hodgson who was brought in at a time the team were fighting relegation under Patrick Vieira says they need to get to work in the transfer market and keep the fast-rising Olise.

He told reporters: “We have a fight on our hands to make sure he stays with us.

“We had two outstanding wingers who were almost the best in the league – Michael Olise on the right side and Wilf on the left. We don’t have Wilf anymore – clubs are circling around Olise.”

Last season, Olise bagged 11 assists the most for any player outside the top eight as his star finally took off in grand style in south London.

The Eagles have been linked with Leeds United’s Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto, they also are closing in on signing promising Brazilian winger Matheus Franca with the player already in London for his medical.