Michael Olise alternatives justify £60m price tag as Newcastle and Chelsea circle

Newcastle United's links with a move for Michael Olise won't go away, as the Magpies look to strengthen their options on the right-hand side of their front three.

United have identified the right wing as a position they must improve this summer and both Miguel Almiron and Yankuba Minteh have been linked with moves away to fund a move for a top-level right-hand side option.

Almiron was close to joining Saudi club Al-Shabab in January and the 30-year-old could well be moved on this summer to facilitate a move for a replacement.

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Similarly, youngster Yankuba Minteh has been linked with a permanent move away from Tyneside, despite only joining the club from Danish side Odense last summer.

The 19-year-old was immediately shipped out on loan to Dutch side Feyenoord, where he scored 10 goals and registered six assists in an impressive season which saw him win the Dutch Cup.

As such, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are among the teams credited with an interest in the Gambian international and a sale could reluctantly be sanctioned, despite him not making a competitive appearance for Newcastle yet.

Should both players depart then that would leave Jacob Murphy as Newcastle's only recognised right winger and, as a result, a number of big names have been linked with a move to Tyneside.

West Ham and England star Jarrod Bowen has been mentioned as a possible target. So, too, has Athletic Bilbao and Spain forward Nico Williams.

However, the loudest noises seem to be around a move for Olise, with the Crystal Palace star reportedly having a £60million release clause in his current deal with the Eagles.

Olise, who will represent France at this summer's Olympics, registered 10 goals and six assists in just 19 Premier League appearances in a season disrupted by injury, and now his form has seen him linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, as well as the Magpies.

£60million would take a large chunk out of Newcastle's summer budget but when you look at the alternatives the Magpies could turn to, coupled with his proven Premier League experience, it may well be a move worth making.

Using Macro Football’s player impact tool, which uses analytics to understand a player’s seasonal impact, the five players most similar to Olise in European football's top five leagues are among the most exciting, and expensive, young talents in the game today.

Bayer Leverkusen and Germany star Florian Wirtz has a 98.4% similarity rating to Olise. The 21-year-old was a key part of Leverkusen's unbeaten title win and scored 18 goals and made 20 assists in all competitions.

As such, he is commanding interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool but the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal champions are said to be holding out for a fee in excess of £100million.

Dutch youngster Xavi Simons boasts a 96% similarity rating to Olise and he, too, is talk of a move in excess of €100million to leave PSG this summer after an outstanding campaign on loan at RB Leipzig.

Ousmane Dembele and Leroy Sane both have over 96% similarity to Olise, too, with both players having won multiple trophies across some of European football's biggest clubs.

Rayan Cherki of Lyon is the fifth player most similar to Olise and while the 20-year-old French youth international would perhaps be a slightly cheaper alternative, a move for Olise would guarantee Premier League experience and be less risky than a move for a player whose sole experience is in France's Ligue 1.

Almiron has served Newcastle admirably on the right-hand side but his end product, at times, has fallen foul of criticism. Olise's record speaks for itself, and Magpies legend Alan Shearer has already praised Olise for his 'trademark' left-footed curlers from outside the box.

That proven track record, coupled with the fact he is actually a cost-effective alternative to some of European football's hottest stars, would actually suggest Newcastle would be best served biting the bullet and activating the 22-year-old's release clause this summer.