Man Utd 'enter talks' with incredible first INEOS signing who destroyed them weeks ago

Manchester United are reportedly in active contact to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise as INEOS line up the first transfer of a new era at Old Trafford. The talented Frenchman’s dominant display against United earlier this month appears to have been enough to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co to pursue their priority target.

Olise ran riot at Selhurst Park, scoring twice in a 4-0 victory that left a significant dent in the Red Devils’ now-faint hopes of European qualification.

Erik ten Hag made Antony the second-most expensive player in the club’s history by splashing £86million to bring him from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

However, the Brazilian hasn’t solved United’s right-wing woes, registering just 11 goals and five assists in 82 appearances.

Alejandro Garnacho has leapfrogged Antony in the pecking order, starting 36 consecutive games since Ten Hag trialled him on the right.

Amad Diallo’s recent explosion has handed the Dutchman another quality option, but Olise has reportedly emerged as a top target at the start of Ratcliffe’s rebuild.

The 22-year-old is said to share a mutual interest in sealing a switch if United trigger his release clause, thought to be worth in the region of £60m.

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And the Red Devils look to have accelerated their pursuit, with less than a month left until the summer transfer window opens.

According to Fabrizio Romano, United are now in active talks with Olise’s representatives about a transfer, and he is open to leaving Palace in the coming months.

Olise doesn’t have a reputation for being injury-prone, but a frustrating recurring hamstring injury has limited his involvement this season.

That said, he has shone brightly when available, scoring 10 goals and providing a further five assists in 18 games, 13 of them starts.

United could be keen to drift towards Premier League-proven names as part of their new recruitment strategy, given the volume of flops from overseas over the last decade.

The M16 giants are also strongly linked with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, with a new centre-back, central midfield, and striker claimed to be alongside their summer plans.

Garnacho’s meteoric rise to prominence and Amad’s late-season form have sparked questions about whether such a large chunk of the budget should go towards another right-winger.

But Garnacho’s future could be on the left, and INEOS preparing to part ways with £60m to recruit Olise speaks volumes about how highly they rate him.