"Whispers" hint at higher release clause in £43M Liverpool and Man City transfer battle

Liverpool and Manchester City are interested in signing Michael Olise in the summer transfer window but "whispers" suggest the Premier League giants will have to pay more than £35 million to reach an agreement with Crystal Palace.

This season, after returning from a hamstring injury, the Eagles attacker has been in fine form. He returned in November and has since scored six goals, providing one assist in nine games.

For comparison, Mohamed Salah got eight goals and four assists in 10 games.

Olise scored a brace against Brentford in Palace's final match of 2023 as Premier League clubs continue to track his rising star.

Latest on Liverpool and Manchester City transfer battle for Michael Olise

According to sources close to Football Insider, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea and are "closely" watching Michael OIise's progress at Selhurst Park.

All three clubs are said to be carrying out "regular scouting missions" as the transfer battle to sign the young attacker begins to formulate with the second half of the 2023/24 season underway.

Unsurprisingly, Palace will not sanction a January transfer but despite signing a new contract before the start of the season, Olise could leave in the summer.

"Whispers" of higher release clause set to become active in Michael Olise's contract with Crystal Palace

Chelsea did their best to sign Olise in the summer after they triggered his £35 million release clause but the player ultimately decided to sign a new deal with Palace with higher wages.

Valued at £43 million (€50M) by German stats website Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old is now earning a reported £100,000 per week - a major increase on the £47,500/week he was previously earning.

Football Insider further revealed that there are "whispers" that Olise's new contract includes a new release clause that will become active in the summer which will further spice up the transfer battle between Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Speaking on the Football Insider podcast The Inside Track, Wayne Veysey said: "Olise's a serous talent. That is why all the big clubs are looking at him.

"I would fully expect Olise to join one of the Premier League giants this summer. It could be Liverpool, Chelsea, it could be Man City. Could be Man United. That's how good he is."

Veysey continued: "They're all looking at him and they're all wondering what his best position is, where he can fit into their attack because Palace are playing [around] with different roles.

"They played him in attacking midfield role, they've played him a bit deeper. They've even played him at centre-forward, they've played him on the left but seem to be settling with him on the wide right of attack and, obviously, that's where the massive Mohamed Salah hole is going to be at Liverpool if, as expected, he does move to Saudi in the summer."

You can listen to The Inside Track podcast on Spotify and other major streaming platforms.