da heads bet： Dimitar Berbatov has advised Manchester United to tread with caution over signing Michael Olise as a previous Crystal Palace transfer didn't work out.
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Olise linked with United transferBerbatov wary of Red Devils dealRecalls Wilfried Zaha's failed move from PalaceWHAT HAPPENED?
United have reportedly been eyeing a move for Palace winger Olise for weeks now but a deal is yet to materialise. Despite scoring five goals and bagging an assist in just nine Premier League matches this season, much of which has been curtailed by a hamstring injury, former Red Devils forward Berbatov is wary of his old employers trying to recruit the 22-year-old. The Bulgarian questioned if the France under-21 international would be the right fit at Old Trafford and recalled the time when Wilfried Zaha swapped the Eagles for United back in 2013 in a move that didn't work out.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT DIMITAR BERBATOV SAID
"Man United have to be careful with transfers, and seeing the link to Michael Olise made me think about when they signed Wilf Zaha. Zaha came from Crystal Palace too and his spell at Man United was short-lived and unsuccessful," Berbatov, who played for United between 2008-12, told Betfair.
"They need to make sure that Olise is what's needed at the club. Is he going to help? Is he going to elevate the team in any way? It's a sensitive situation for Man United so they need to be careful.
"Olise has a lot to improve on, but he has shown great quality on the pitch in his career so far. He needs the right environment and the right manager around him because if it's not right for him then performances on the pitch will suffer."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Olise signed a new deal at Palace until the summer of 2027 last August but it is unlikely he will stay at Selhurst Park for all that time. United do, arguably, need a rebuild and the former Reading man, who cost Palace just £8m back in 2021, could be a good fit. However, many big-money moves at Old Trafford have failed to work out and it remains to be seen if the winger would be good enough to shine at a club of United's size and stature.
WHAT NEXT?
The January transfer window will close for English clubs at midnight on February 1, meaning United and other teams interested in Olise do not have a great deal of time to push through a transfer. In the mean time, Olise's Palace host lowly Sheffield United on January 30.