Manchester United's squad overhaul could begin with a summer move for Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
French under-21 international Olise was the subject of interest from Chelsea over the summer. He opted to remain at Selhurst Park, though, agreeing a new deal with Palace and playing a big part this season despite missing the start of the campaign through injury.
Chelsea proceeded to turn their attention to other targets, wrapping up a £42.5million deal for Cole Palmer at the end of the transfer window. Olise remains in demand, though, with United tipped to meet his release clause when it comes into force at the end of the season.
A deal for Olise could herald the beginning of an overhaul at Old Trafford following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3billion investment for a 25 percent stake in the club. Mirror Football understands the release clause is around the £60million mark, more than the £35m clause which Chelsea met in August.
According to the Evening Standard, United are looking to make Olise one of the first signings of the Ratcliffe era. They are not expected to move for the 22-year-old in January, though.
The links come at a time when questions are being asked of United's attack. Erik ten Hag's side have scored just 22 goals in 20 games - only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer - and are expected to let Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial leave either in January or at the end of the season.
Olise missed the start of the campaign after picking up a hamstring injury during the European Under-21 Championships over the summer. Since returning in November, though, he has scored five times in just nine appearances for the Eagles.
"Every club needs players that get the crowd buzzing and we have been blessed with Wilf [Zaha] through the years and now we have Olise and also we have Eberechi Eze," Palace boss Roy Hodgson said last month. "We have two players like that who can do that job and get the crowd buzzing. I think the crowd are very much behind the team and I think they will recognise that there are some good moments ahead for this football club.”
Olise scored in the Chelsea defeat in December, and added two more goals in a victory over Brentford before the turn of the year. Eze was also on target against the Bees, ending an eight game winless run for Hodgson's team.