Chelsea will be disappointed to have missed out on Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
Michael Olise is close to joining Bayern Munich, with The Athletic reporting that the 22-year-old has decided to sign for the German giants after Chelsea pulled out of the race for his signature.
It means it is back to the drawing board for the Blues.
However, they should be able to survive without Olise next season because of another individual, though the France U21 international is going to feel like the one that got away for many connected to the club.
Why Chelsea will be disappointed about not signing Olise
Olise is only 22, but he has easily been one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons.
During the 2023/24 campaign, for example, he came up with 16 goal contributions in just 19 appearances.
As per FBref, Olise has also ranked in the 87th percentile for successful take-ons among attacking midfielders and wingers over the last year.
He would have been a real threat for Chelsea on the right flank, but it is not like Enzo Maresca is lacking options there.
Cole Palmer’s presence softens Michael Olise blow
Last term, Palmer often played on the right, and the attacker was exceptional whenever he was on the pitch.
In the 33 Premier League appearances Palmer made, he came up with 33 goal contributions.
In the next campaign, Maresca could easily leave the Englishman there and start Christopher Nkunku in the No.10 role.
If the Italian does that and Palmer can maintain the form he has shown since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in a £45m deal last year, then the Blues will quickly forget about Olise.
Maresca is also in possession of Noni Madueke. While the 22-year-old’s end product is not as good as Olise’s just yet, their dribbling is quite similar.
Madueke, who scored five goals for Chelsea in the English top flight last season, has ranked in the 93rd percentile for successful take-ons.