O'Rourke shares update on Chelsea part-exchange deal - Sources

By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

8th Aug, 2023 | 7:00am

Revealed: O'Rourke shares update on Chelsea part-exchange deal

Lewis Hall’s potential loan move to Crystal Palace will not form part of negotiations for Chelsea to sign Michael Olise, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (7 August) that Palace are in advanced talks with their London rivals over the signing of Hall, who has impressed for the Blues during pre-season.

Chelsea do not want to sell Hall permanently and believe his development would be best served by regular Premier League football in the 2023-24 campaign.

Predominantly deployed at left-back, the 18-year-old made 11 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club in the 2022-23 season for a total of 823 minutes of game time.

Hall can play at left-back, left wing-back, as a central midfielder and a winger – and that versatility has endeared him to Chelsea chiefs.

Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on Monday (7 August) that Chelsea, in turn, are set to step up their interest in Crystal Palace star Michael Olise as they prepare to miss out on Brighton-bound top target Mohammed Kudus.

Sources first told Football Insider of the Blues’ concrete interest in the winger late last month (25 July) – with treble-winners Man City also eyeing him as a potential Riyad Mahrez replacement.

But a well-placed source has revealed that any potential negotiations for Olise will be separated from Hall’s move to Selhurst Park.

Hall is seen as a star for the future at Chelsea and is under contract until June 2026 after the Blues triggered a one-year extension clause in his deal earlier this year.

Olise was previously a Blues youth star but left the club in search of regular first-team football.

The France Under-21 international, who has a £35million release clause in his contract at Palace, notched two goals and 11 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season.

In other news, Everton now set sights on Chelsea star after deal agreed.