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Scouting expert: Michael Olise can replace Wilfried Zaha for Crystal Palace
We’re delighted to welcome Football Manager’s Wolves researcher Dave Azzopardi as our exclusive columnist. Each week the scouting expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on Wonderkids across the UK…
Crystal Palace may already have their Wilfried Zaha replacement at the club as Michael Olise continues to impress, according to Dave Azzopardi.
The Eagles suffered a last minute defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend, as former loanee Conor Gallagher curled an effort into the top corner, but Olise caught the eye with his performance on the right win for Patrick Vieira’s side.
With talisman Zaha in the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park there is a chance he could leave in the summer for free, but Azzopardi believes that Olise could be a ready-made replacement for the Ivorian star.
“I think he can come in there and be that replacement,” he told The Football Wonderkids.
“He’s so quick, so skilful on the ball. It’s always going to be difficult for Palace to replace Zaha because he’s got that aggressive, nasty side to him that a lot of opposition fans don’t like but it helps Crystal Palace a lot I think.
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“But Olise is a top player and he’s another example of these young players who have stepped up from the Championship. Palace paid less than £10m for him so they’ve guaranteed already to be making a huge profit on him if they look to sell.
“If he can break into the first-team more, get among the goals and assists more often then they’ll see that value sky-rocket.
“I think he’s more than capable and more than talented enough to step in for Zaha and become a replacement for him long term.”
The 20 year old France Under-21 international signed from Reading in the summer of 2021 and so far has managed four goals and five assists in 38 appearances for the club in all competitions.
In other Football Wonderkids news, Armando Broja has been backed to break through at Chelsea under Graham Potter