Breaking News: Sir Jim Ratcliffe suffers blow as top Man Utd transfer target has join Man City this morning -Done Deal

Michael Olise has caught the eye with his Crystal Palace performances (Image: Getty Images)

Although some new signings are anticipated after Sir Jim Ratcliffe joins Manchester United during the upcoming windows, they won’t have everything their own way.

It won’t be easy for Manchester United to sign Michael Olise as their first acquisition under Jim Ratcliffe, as former manager of Manchester City Stuart Pearce claims to have seen the young player at United’s neighbors.

Over the summer, Olise signed a new contract with Crystal Palace after declining Chelsea’s interest. The France under-21 star has already drawn a lot of attention since recovering from an injury in the fall, but Mirror Football understands that the deal includes a release clause worth about £60 million, which is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

Olise is only one goal behind Palace’s top scorer Odsonne Edouard with five goals in the league despite only having played nine games. His contribution has been instrumental in compensating for Wilfried Zaha’s summertime departure as Roy Hodgson’s team attempts to stay afloat.

Summer interest in the former Reading star was always going to be likely, even without a release clause. But Pearce believes that City is the right choice.

“Not Man United… Man City,” Pearce responded to a question about Olise taking the next step up on talkSPORT. “I saw how he performed, particularly against Chelsea. Although he lost that game, in my opinion, he was the best player on the field.

“The way he handled the ball, his comprehension of when to hold onto it, and all those kinds of things. He appeared to be wearing a City shirt.

After selling Anthony Elanga during the summer and allowing Jadon Sancho to return on loan to Borussia Dortmund, United now has a void on the wing. Nevertheless, despite Antony’s lack of a goal in 21 appearances this season, manager Erik ten Hag has backed the costly signing.

Michael Olise has scored five goals in nine Premier League appearances this season ( Image: Getty Images)

Before Palace’s December match against Chelsea, Palace manager Hodgson said of Olise, “Every club needs players that get the crowd buzzing and we have been blessed with Wilf through the years and now we have Olise and also we have Eberechi Eze.” “I think the crowd is very much behind the team and they will recognize that there are some good moments ahead for this football club. We have two players like that who can do that job and get the crowd buzzing.”

In that game, Olise scored, and in the Eagles’ last 2023 game against Brentford, he added two more. Due to an injury, he was unable to participate in the FA Cup third round matchup with Everton, and the result was a goalless draw with little production from either team.

On January 17, Palace and Everton will have to repeat the entire process. The winners will play at home against either Bolton Wanderers or Luton Town. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, an Everton striker, will be available after his red card from the first game was reversed.