Arsenal must quickly forget about Raphinha despite the strong attempts to sign him, in order to allow Edu the opportunity to explore the chance of signing alternatives in this transfer window to avoid losing out on more targets.
The Gunners desperately need to sign a winger to bolster Mikel Arteta’s firepower ahead of next season. Raphinha seemed to be the main target for the Gunners but a deal fell through after Chelsea attempted to hijack a move, with Barcelona also interested in the Brazil international.
Edu can still target another Premier League player in order to fill the void in the wide positions for Arsenal, however. Michael Olise was sensational for Crystal Palace last season, and is reported to have a release clause that the Gunners can explore.
READ MORE: Arsenal's connection with Ligue 1 club can help Edu beat Premier League rivals to Belgium star
According to The Times, Olise is thought to have a £35m release clause, although they state that it is not known whether that only becomes active if the club is relegated. He only moved to Selhurst Park from Reading last year, but several bright performances have left other clubs, which reportedly include Arsenal, monitoring his situation.
Olise has one of the most expected assists per 90 minutes as a result of the number of progressive passes he attempts compared to other youngsters in Europe last season. Only Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has a better mixture of the two statistics in Europe’s top five leagues compared to players who are 23 and under.
Olise has primarily been used as a right-winger this season and thrived in the role after struggling with an injury early in the season. The Gunners have been linked with right-wingers in the summer due to the uncertainty of Nicolas Pepe’s future, and Olise would certainly be the perfect replacement.
The youngster can also play as an attacking midfielder or a No. 8, which was seen during his Reading days, and it would certainly benefit Arsenal. The winger’s versatility would also be a big benefit for the Gunners, with the north London side in European competition next season meaning an increase in games will certainly take its toll on a small squad, meaning Olise will be useful in multiple positions.
If the Gunners were to sell Pepe at the end of the season, then competition alongside Saka would certainly be needed. Despite the excellent performances the Englishman has shown for Arsenal throughout the season, there has been times when he has shown signs of burnout, and having someone who can help successfully share the attacking load would certainly be beneficial.
Olise would certainly be an excellent addition for the Gunners. Edu must look to explore the potential release clause in his contract as he would be the ideal alternative to Raphinha.
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