‘I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND’: GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR BAFFLED BY MAJOR CRYSTAL PALACE DECISION

Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is baffled by Crystal Palace’s decision to hand Michael Olise a £35m release clause.

According to BBC Sport, Chelsea are set to sign Michael Olise after triggering the release clause in his Crystal Palace contract.

Speaking on talkSPORT about the winger’s proposed move to Stamford Bridge, Agbonlahor said: “Olise, I can’t understand, why would you put it in for £35m? I just don’t understand.”

The 21-year-old is currently out injured, so it may be a while before Chelsea fans get to see him make his debut should the transfer go through.

Palace are at least set to make a profit on Olise after signing him from Reading for £8m in

Another huge blow for Roy Hodgson

The Eagles have already lost Wilfried Zaha, so to watch Olise depart as well will really hit Hodgson hard.

That is two extremely talented wide men the former England manager will now be without for the 2023/24 campaign.

You now have to wonder how he will replace Olise’s creativity. Last season, the France U21 international provided 11 assists for Palace.

Zaha was also the south London club’s talisman who was relied upon to score goals. In the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, he netted 14 times in 33 outings.

Palace now face a real difficult task finding successors to Zaha and Olise, but they absolutely have to. If not, you suspect that a relegation battle awaits them.

The Selhurst Park faithful will be disappointed to see the latter follow the former out of the exit door, but there is not much Palace can do because of his release clause.

The club could not really do anything about Zaha either, with the 30-year-old deciding not to extend his contract before joining Galatasaray.

Going forward, it will now be interesting to see how Palace deal with contract situations and targets who want release clauses in their deals.

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Following in the footsteps of last year’s cohort, every single one of these players is set to graduate their scholarship with a minimum of 2 A-levels or their equivalent A-Level qualifications, a testament to their commitment to both their football development and their education.

This dual focus on academics and athletics underlines Crystal Palace’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals. The squad have amassed a remarkable 29 A-level & A-level equivalent qualifications between them this year.

One standout performer amongst this group is last year’s captain, Freddie Bell. With determination and hard work, Freddie has achieved the remarkable feat of completing his two years in the U18’s with the equivalent of 4 A-levels.

This outstanding accomplishment showcases his dedication to excellence both on and off the pitch. Additionally, we extend our congratulations to Freddie as he embarks on his journey at Penn State University in the United States on an academic and sports scholarship—a testament to his exceptional talent and commitment.

Jackson Izquierdo and Basilio Rieno-Socoliche, two other Scholars from the class of 2023, have completed their U18 years with the equivalent of 3 A-level qualifications.

Goalkeeper Izquierdo’s outstanding skills have propelled him into the U21’s squad, showcasing his potential for a bright future in the sport. Basilio’s achievements have been rewarded with his recent signing by Premier League newcomers Burnley, a testament to his talent and dedication.

In addition to their A-levels, all the scholars successfully completed their apprenticeship qualification with a significant number being graded at Distinction level.

The entire Crystal Palace community congratulates the class of 2023 for their exceptional accomplishments, both in the classroom and on the pitch. Their dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence set an inspiring example for aspiring athletes and scholars alike