Manchester United will need to hand over at least £60million if they want to land transfer target Michael Olise, it has been claimed.
French under-21 international Olise has starred for Palace this season despite missing half the campaign through injury. He has seven goals and four assists in just 925 Premier League minutes for Crystal Palace, including a goal and an assist in the recent 5-2 demolition of West Ham United.
Back in January, it emerged that the former Reading star was on United's radar as a top target. Ratcliffe's investment in the club was ratified in February, after the winter transfer window shut, but he could well make up for lost time.
Chelsea had mistakenly believed they had activated a £35m release clause before new terms were agreed last summer. A new release clause in his current deal, which runs until June 2027, is understood to have been inserted - but the terms remain unclear.
According to The BBC, £60m is considered Palace's starting point on negotiations for Olise and for his team-mate Eberechi Eze. Both players are said to be happy at Selhurst Park, where Oliver Glasner recently took over as manager.
Manchester City and Chelsea have both previously expressed an interest in Olise, but the Evening Standard reported in January that the player was being eyed by United over a potential summer swoop. At the time there was talk of a swap deal involving a Palace return for defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, though this was before Glasner took over from Roy Hodgson in South London.
United's own managerial situation remains uncertain, with questions over Erik ten Hag's future. They have also yet to determine which European competition they will take part in next season, though Champions League football is all but impossible.
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Olise and Eze have both played their part as Palace recorded three straight league wins to ease any lingering relegation fears. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored four of the Eagles' eight goals during the run, and hailed his creative team-mates after the win over West Ham after Glasner admitted "They are excellent players and they are important for our attack. Michael’s goal with his head, which is maybe not his biggest strength, but it was the cross from Joachim Andersen after they cleared a set piece – how we played then was excellent.
"I enjoy every game playing with them," Mateta added. "They help the team. When they're playing first-touch like this, it's always good, you know?
"When I saw he [Olise] was watching me, I know he was going to cross then. I'm very happy to play with these guys. They help the team a lot. It's good. They have to keep playing like this!”
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