Manchester United hardly put up a fight and eventually succumbed 0-4 to a rampant Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday.
Manager Erik ten Hag was forced into making a few key personnel changes due to mounting injury concerns and while a visit to Selhurst Park was always going to be a difficult challenge, such a miserable capitulation was certainly not expected.
Casemiro, who played as the right-sided centre-half, had a nightmare out on the pitch and was seen everywhere except for the role assigned to him.
He kept sliding in trying to win the ball back, and Michael Olise skipped past him with ease on a number of occasions including for the first of his two on the night.
Olise was the star on Monday
The Eagles star, who is reportedly United’s only approved summer target, was on fire and his display surely enhanced his chances of earning a move to The Theatre of Dreams.
The 22-year-old has nine goals and four assists in 12 starts in the Premier League this season and if not for injury concerns, Olise would definitely have bagged a lot more.
The 20-time English league champions’ problems on the right are well known with Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood likely to be moved on while the club is desperately trying to sell big-money flop Antony this summer.
The Frenchman would be the perfect signing but as Football Transfers have now revealed, Aston Villa are confident that they can outmanoeuvre the Manchester giants in the race.
Olise wants regular minutes and is unlikely to be satisfied with a place on the bench. Arsenal, who are also interested in the winger, can therefore be safely ruled out as they already possess the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
The Peoples Person had relayed that the forward wants to play in the Champions League and Villa are in a position where they can offer the same, unlike Ten Hag’s side.
Villa take surprise lead
The report further adds that stability is important for the former Reading ace and with Unai Emery recently signing a contract extension, Villa are in a much better position than United.
INEOS are unlikely to keep Ten Hag on considering the season the club had and another new manager coming in could signal yet another shift in style that could affect Olise should he choose to sign for the Reds.
“Aston Villa are confident they can outmanoeuvre Arsenal and Manchester United in securing the signing of Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.
“We understand that the in-demand Olise aims to join a Champions League team next season and secure a spot as a regular starter, prioritising his playing time over sitting on the bench.
“This development would undoubtedly be a big blow to Premier League leaders Arsenal. The prospect of regular game time is diminished at the Emirates due to established players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard having already cemented their roles in similar positions.
United set to lose Olise race
“As for Manchester United, their probable lack of European football makes securing Olise’s signature highly unlikely.
“The uncertainty over the Red Devils’ managerial situation also counts against them, particularly as Unai Emery has recently signed a new contract with the Birmingham outfit.”
Villa sporting director Monchi is confident that he can help Emery’s team win the race for the France U21 international. It will be interesting to see how INEOS respond.
Surely they will not lose a race for a target they have been desperate to acquire since buying 27.7 percent of the club.
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