England cult hero Stuart Pearce has now told Crystal Palace winger and Arsenal target Michael Olise to snub a transfer to Manchester United as he can join Manchester City.
Pearce is confident that Olise is ready to get the next step in the 22-year-old’s career after a captivating campaign at Crystal Palace. But he should snub a move to Old Trafford as Olise has the skill to play for Pep Guardiola. Manchester City also showed an interest last summer.
Olise has astounded Pearce since returning from a hamstring tear sustained in June while on France Under-21 duty. He scored five goals and assisted another over nine Premier League games. But the Eagles are again without the winger after he suffered a new hamstring injury.
Michael Olise favours a transfer to Arsenal over Manchester United
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson must now make do without Olise against Everton, Arsenal and, likely, Sheffield United. He is unlikely to return before February after picking up an issue in stoppage time against Brentford on December 30. Olise had scored twice to get a 3-1 win.
News of his injury did not stop reports by Football Transfers claiming Olise favours a move to Arsenal over Manchester United. The teams are both in the race for his transfer from Crystal Palace this summer when a £60m release clause in the winger’s contract will become active.
Arsenal could even step up their interest in Olise’s transfer in January with boss Mikel Arteta a long-term admirer of the Crystal Palace star. But the Gunners would first need to sign off a raft of sales to raise enough funds. The Emirates Stadium natives only have a limited budget.
Stuart Pearce can see the Crystal Palace star at Manchester City
Olise would very much favour a transfer to Arsenal if given the choice between Arteta’s club and Manchester United. But Pearce could envisage the London-born dynamo at Manchester City. RMC Sport also credited Guardiola with an interest last summer as Chelsea eyed a deal.
Pearce told talkSPORT: “I’ve watched him a couple of times recently and the answer is ‘Yes’. Not Man United [but] Man City. I looked at the way he played against Chelsea, especially.
“He got beaten on the night but he was by far the best player on the pitch, in my opinion. The way he dealt with the ball, his understanding of when to keep the ball [and] all of those type of things. I could see him in a City shirt.”
Manchester City ultimately opted to sign Jeremey Doku from Stade Rennais over Olise, who Chelsea offered €30m (£26m) for. The Blues also had a baseline agreement with the winger over a move last summer. But Olise stayed at Selhurst Park and signed a contract until 2027.
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