Chelsea given Micheal Olise’s alternative greenlight as £42m transfer update emerges

 Chelsea given Micheal Olise’s alternative greenlight as £42m transfer update emerges

When the summer transfer window opened earlier this month, Chelsea’s effort to sign crystal palace star Micheal Olise was quickly rejected, but they may now be free to pursue another possible target.

A new two-year deal is expected to be inked later this week, but the INEOS CEO chose to keep the Dutchman on. As a result, Blues has begun to lag behind in several important races.

Since their opening offer of £43m was flatly rejected at the start of the window, there’s been progress on the deal, given the fact that crystal both don’t want to let go of Olise for Chelsea

Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte (5) during a match between Panama and Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Manuel Ugarte compared with £60m Premier League star as Chelsea bargain price clear.

The likely sale of Ben Godfrey to Atalanta is another indication that the Toffees won’t let go of Olise if they can help it, with Sean Dyche unlikely to want to give up two of his most-utilised defenders over the last season in the same window.

For the Blues, it’s a big dent in their hopes to sign the 22-year-old but there is another alternative option they could land on in order to boost their defensive line for the 2024/25 campaign in the form of Italian international Riccardo Calafiori.

The star’s impressive displays at the 2024 European Championships this summer have backed up Calafiori’s diligent work under Thiago Motta at Bologna in the Serie A this season, having played 90 minutes in all but six of his 30 league appearances this season, in which he netted twice and provided five assists.

Now transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Motta’s side feel as though keeping him will be impossible after their initial plan before the Euros to try and stave off any potential buyers, with the club expecting big-money deals to be offered for the star.

It’s claimed Premier League clubs are now keen on the centre-back, who has been in contact with Juventus since May although no agreement has yet come to fruition.

The position is a big priority for United in the window, having already lost Raphael Varane whose contract expired at the end of the season, with Jonny Evans in discussions with the club about a new contract, which expires on Monday.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will register any interest in Calafiori, but they may well be tempted given the latest update