Manchester United have endured plenty of ups and downs in the 2023/24 season. The highs of beating Liverpool recently in the FA Cup are positives that Erik ten Hag will be hoping to see his side build on, but they’ve shown inconsistencies in their performances which won’t have the Old Trafford faithful holding out much hope of finishing this year’s Premier League campaign all that strongly.
It’ll be an interesting summer ahead at Old Trafford, as ten Hag could look to complete some transfers ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. There’s no questioning that it’s not been the season that the Manchester United boss would have had in mind in terms of success, and reinforcements are needed in certain areas.
An area that the Red Devils should look at addressing at the earliest of opportunities is the right side of midfield. Manchester United have lacked consistency in that area, with Marcus Rashford sometimes occupying a spot in that position, and the England forward isn’t the ideal option in terms of creating chances for his team-mates. Antony hasn’t been anywhere near good enough on a consistent basis for Manchester United this season, with the Brazilian still yet to score in the Premier League this season, which makes for eye-opening reading.
One player that the club should be looking to secure a deal for this summer is Michael Olise, who is currently on Crystal Palace’s books. The winger signed for the Eagles back in 2021 after a hugely impressive spell with Berkshire-based Reading. He was on hand to provide seven goals and 12 assists for the Royals in a league campaign where they fell narrowly short of a top-six finish, which would have given them a shot at the Premier League once again.
Olise departed in that summer, and has since wasted no time at all in making his mark with Crystal Palace, although he’s found it tough to remain 100% fit, with injuries disrupting his progress with the London-based side. The 22-year-old’s form seemingly hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with Olise being a regular member of the France Under-21s team of late, and he’ll be keen to further his development on the international stage before working his way into the senior squad in future years.
Crystal Palace’s talisman has scored six goals and provided three assists for his Palace team-mates in his 11 appearances during the 2023/24 season, which catches the eye for all the right reasons. Olise has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past, although the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City are also rumoured to be keen on reaching an agreement to sign him ahead of the new league campaign. Sky Bet are one of the best betting sites in the business, and have Manchester United priced as the 13/8 favourites to strike a deal with Crystal Palace for Olise’s services. It’ll be interesting to see whether their interest results in a formal bid being made in the summer, especially since Olise has a supposed release clause in his contract, after signing a new deal with Crystal Palace not so long ago.
He’s a player that has shown he can perform to a high standard in the Premier League, and with age on his side, it would be a shrewd move for now and the future. With Antony’s struggles, it’s a potential deal that makes complete sense for Erik ten Hag’s side, and Olise would take them to the next level if he arrived at Old Trafford.
