Liverpool target has summer release clause following failed Chelsea move

Reported Liverpool transfer target Michael Olise has a release clause in his Crystal Palace, which will become active from this summer.

According to one report, the Reds have been 'closely monitoring' Olise, even sending the club's 'top scouts' to watch the attacking midfielder score a brace in the 3-1 win over Brentford on 30 December.

Olise is said to be on the list of potential long-term replacements for Mohamed Salah, whose future at Anfield beyond the summer remains up in the air – despite a historic 2023 from the 31-year-old.

Olise has been in fine form for Palace so far this season, scoring five times (his best Premier League return to date) and registering one assist in nine outings.

The London-born France Under-21 star spent time in the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, while he is still eligible to play for England, France, Nigeria or Algeria at senior international level.

He has long been rated as one of the Premier League's brightest young talents and was the subject of interest from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.

The Blues attempted to activate the 22-year-old's release clause, then set at £35m, but later pulled out of a deal. According to Fabrizio Romano, Palace threatened to go to a tribunal over the approach, leading to Chelsea walking away from the move at the eleventh hour.

Olise went on to sign a contract extension at Selhurst Park, tying him to the club until 2027.

However, according to the Evening Standard, along with a substantial bump in salary, Olise's new deal at Palace also includes a release clause – albeit a much larger one – likely leading to renewed interest from suitors in the near future.

The report claims that the new buyout is set 'significantly higher' than £35m, 'though the exact figure is not known'.

Whether Liverpool are genuinely interested in Olise remains to be seen, but the Reds do have form in pouncing on of advantageous clauses.

The Reds acted first at the start of last summer to sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, activating a buyout in his new deal set at around £35m – a bargain for a World Cup winning midfielder of his calibre and experience.

Dominik Szoboszlai was another summer arrival who was brought in after his £60m release clause at RB Leipzig was met.

Should Olise keep up his form this season, he will likely to be of interest to a host of clubs. The finer details of his new contract may well be worth investigating.