Arsenal, Leeds United and Liverpool are battling to sign Michael Olise and a departure from Reading is ‘possible’, according to Royals manager Veljko Paunovic (Berkshire Live).
Few expected Reading to win seven of their first eight Championship games this season, and even fewer expected to see an 18-year-old midfielder suddenly emerge as one of the finest footballers in the entire division.
But both Olise and the Royals have upset the apple-cart so far in 2020/21, even if the Berkshire-based club have slipped down the table after losing each of their last four games.
Olise, a former Manchester City and Chelsea starlet who represented France at youth level, has Premier League scouts gasping for breath after a handful of stellar showings in the centre of midfield.
The youngster is on the radar of Arsenal, Leeds and Wolves, according to the Mail, while Reading have already turned down offers of £5 million (Chronicle).
TEAMtalk, meanwhile, claim that Dortmund, Monaco, Everton and a Liverpool side who specialise in unearthing future superstars are also interested.
“That’s a possibility for everyone,” Reading boss Paunovic said when asked if Olise could leave. “It’s a part of the game, it’s a possibility and we don’t control that.
“Why the teams are looking at our players is because our team is doing well and individuals form part of the team, and their performances are important. That’s what we also control and this is what we focus on.”
Olise has scored twice in 13 matches so far with both goals spectacular in their own way.
After channelling his inner Paul Scholes with a bouncing bomb of a volley against Barnsley, Olise weaved through the Blackburn defence like a fresh-faced Ryan Giggs before slotting home in style.
As Reading fans will tell you, his devilish set-pieces alone are worth more than that £5 million bid.
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