Steve Parish's Michael Olise contract admission and thoughts on underrated Crystal Palace player

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish says he is currently in the process of rewarding several players for what they’ve achieved this season.

The Eagles have impressed under new manager Patrick Vieira and are on the cusp of a top-ten finish in the Premier League having already reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup this season. Vieira has brought a new, possession-based style of play to south London which has been complemented well by Palace’s summer recruitment.

Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman worked tirelessly to bring in young, hungry players that would fit Vieira’s mould, with centre-backs Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen two of the early players through the door. Midfielder Conor Gallagher - who won Palace’s Player of the Season award on Monday night - also arrived on loan via Chelsea, while Odsonne Edouard and Will Hughes helped create more competition for places.

One of the best signings though has been Michael Olise, who joined for a fee of £8million from Championship side Reading after winning the EFL Young Player of the Year award with the Royals last season. The 20-year-old winger has settled into life at Selhurst Park quickly, so much so that Parish and the club have reportedly reopened his contract negotiations to ward off transfer interest in the youngster.

Olise is thought to have a £35million release clause in his four-year deal, though this is now set to be pushed above the £50million that Palace received from Manchester United for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019. That would mean Olise would become Palace’s record sale if an incoming club were to trigger his new release clause, though in the short term the new deal provides a commitment that he’ll remain in south London for the