Crystal Palace appear to be planning for life without Michael Olise with the Premier League outfit eyeing up Sporting Lisbon’s £13 million-rated whizzkid Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
While The Eagles are determined to reduce the pressure on Matheus Franca’s still-broadening shoulders, the sight of an unproven teenager arriving at Selhurst Park following the departure of club legend Wilfried Zaha felt like a major show of faith in the £17 million newbie.
If reports coming out of Portugal are to be believed, Crystal Palace could adopt a similar approach should Michael Olise follow Zaha out the door this month. Another expensive punt on another highly-talented but very raw youngster.
Crystal Palace could lose Michael Olise to Chelsea
Olise, according to Goal, is close to agreeing personal tems with Chelsea ahead of a £45 million switch to Stamford Bridge.
Now, Record do not specify whether or not Abdul Fatawa Issahaku would be brought in as a direct Olise replacement. But the similarities between both players do not feel like a coincidence. Issahaku, after all, is a left-footed right winger who loves to cut inside from the flank.
Described as ‘arguably the best African prospect of his generation’ by The Guardian back in 2021, Issahaku made history when becoming the youngest Ghanaian ever to feature in a World Cup over in Qatar.
Record say that Sporting would be willing to accept offers of £13 million. There is interest from Real Valladolid but Crystal Palace’s vastly superior financial muscle makes them the clear favourites to secure the 19-year-old’s signature.
Olise out and Fatawa Issahaku in
“He has a great talent. Very fast, he shoots from very far out and from different areas of the pitch,” Sporting coach Ruben Amorim says of Issahaku, who has £50 million release clause in his contract and was once the subject of failed bids from Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
“He can improve a lot. We count on him and it’s only up to him to (force his way into) the first team. We believe in him a lot.
“It took a lot of work to convince him (to sign), knowing that there were many clubs that wanted him.”
Issahaku may now look to move on after struggling to establish himself under Amorim. He made only six Primeira Liga appearances last term.
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