According to the Daily Mail, Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in Michael Olise and may have to battle Arsenal and Leeds United for his signature.
The 18-year-old is coming off the back of a breakthrough season at Reading and has already impressed this campaign too. Olise has an uncertain future at the Madejski Stadium given the growing interest, but time is running out for suitors to sign him.
The Football League transfer window shuts on Friday at 5pm, so Wolves don’t have long to make a move.
Who is Olise?
Olise joined Reading on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2015 and rose through the youth ranks to the first-team in 2018/19. He scored two goals in 16 games for the U18s, scored six goals with four assists in 18 games for the U23s and scored one goal with four assists in 32 games for the first-team.
The 18-year-old, who has represented France at U18 level, has scored one goal with two assists in five appearances this season, so his future looks bright. Olise is a right-sided winger, but he can play on the left and has filled in at centre-midfield too.
As per WhoScored, the teenager has made a total of 27 Championship appearances, creating 30 chances, making 37/58 successful dribbles, completing 81.3% of his 690 passes, whipping in 57 crosses with 22.8% finding a teammate, taking 25 shots with 32% hitting the target, making 11 clearances, winning 40 free-kicks and averaging a tackle (32) or interception (18) every 33 minutes.
Any chance of getting a deal over the line this week?
I doubt it. Olise looks a good player with a lot of potential, but the Daily Mail’s piece doesn’t say we’re in talks with Reading. He’s just a player on our radar.
That’s the same with Arsenal and Leeds. No official bid has been made yet.
The 18-year-old has two more years remaining on his deal too, so the Royals aren’t obligated to cash in early.
Reading won’t want to lose such a talented player without the time to locate a replacement either, so I can’t see Olise making the switch by Friday evening.
In other news, Dion Sanderson could join Cardiff City or Sheffield Wednesday ahead of deadline day
