England face a tussle with France to retain the services of highly-rated attacking midfielder Michael Olise.
The Crystal Palace player was born in England but qualifies to play for France through his French-Algerian mother and has even courted interest from Nigeria, where his father was born.
Olise, 20, first opted to play for France Under 18s while he was on the books at Reading but has chosen to switch allegiance this week in accepting a first call-up to England’s Under 21s.
The player became Patrick Vieira’s first signing at Palace when he took over last summer and the club activated an £8m release clause. Olise committed to five years at the club.
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England manager Gareth Southgate, who came through Palace’s academy and made more than 150 appearances for the south London club, would like Olise to commit to England but is aware the player could still choose France.
Olise will not be tied to a country until he plays in a competitive senior match. But it does not appear as though his manager Vieira, a former France midfield legend who won a World Cup and European Championship with the national team, has swayed any decision.
“On dual nationality I’m always kept informed, I’m always sitting in on grading meetings for all the age group teams,” Southgate said. “I like to know what’s going on, the different players. I don’t think there’d be a senior selection yet [for Olise].
“I think Michael Olise has had a good season with Palace. We like him. We’d definitely like him to be with us. There is an opportunity with France as well who he’s been with at Under 18s. I know there’s a decision for him and his family there.”
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