‘Fight on our hands’ – Roy Hodgson on Michael Olise’s Crystal Palace future with Chelsea and Man City keen on winger

Roy Hodgson has admitted Crystal Palace have a “fight” on their hands with Chelsea and Manchester City both keen on winger Michael Olise.

The 21-year-old has three years remaining on the five-year deal he signed at Selhurst Park after the Eagles paid Reading £8million to secure his services.

Olise grabbed 11 assists in the Premier League last season. However, the French U21 international suffered a hamstring injury on international duty over the summer and will miss the start of the season.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City are keen on signing Olise this summer.

“We have a fight on our hands to make sure he stays with us,” Hodgson said.

“We had two outstanding wingers who were almost the best in the league – Michael Olise on the right side and Wilf on the left. We don’t have Wilf anymore – clubs are circling around Olise. 

“We’ve lost five senior players from last season and brought one in – Jefferson Lerma. He’s good and we’re happy to have him in – but there is still that hole of five senior players in the squad, two of whom were two of the real stars of the team.

“There’s a bit of work for the chairman and sporting director to do between now and the end of August, because the team we put out today was in our opinion, at this moment in time, our best team, but we don’t have the strength behind that team that we had last year.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD