Chelsea have seemingly turned to Michael Olise as a transfer priority, amid suggestions that Mohammed Kudus has long been in dialogue with Arsenal.

On Sunday afternoon, RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins reported that Chelsea had made an initial offer to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, with the player agreeing in principle to join the club.

Fabrizio Romano added that both Chelsea and Manchester City have Olise on their shortlist, although they’re waiting for clarity on his situation after he picked up an injury last month.

Chelsea’s move for Olise is intriguing, as it suggests their pursuit of Ajax star Mohammed Kudus is cooling.

Kudus has also been linked with Arsenal, and football insider Team News and Ticks writes that dialogue with the Gunners has been happening for a long time.

The same source speculates that Chelsea could now be looking at Olise because Kudus has been speaking to their London rivals.

Earlier in the summer, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Kudus had rejected a one-year extension to stay at Ajax beyond 2025, and he’s made the club aware of his intention to depart the club this summer.

Ajax are expected to want a £40m fee for the midfielder, but they’ve shown they’re open to doing deals when players enter the final two years of their contracts.

At the time, Ornstein suggested that Arsenal joined Manchester United and Newcastle United in tracking Kudus, and that the Gunners admired the midfielder.

Kudus made 42 appearances for Ajax last season, scoring 18 goals and providing seven assists. A versatile attacker, he can play in an attacking midfield role, on the wing, or even up front.

As well as his contributions at club level, Kudus caught the eye at the World Cup, scoring two goals in three games with Ghana.

The 22-year-old has been a key figure for his national team for the last couple of years, generally starting matches whenever he’s been fit.