Michael Olise’s rise to a World Cup place is notable for how uneven his early pathway was. The London-born winger spent time in several top academies before finding a route to senior football via Reading, progressing through Crystal Palace and completing a 2024 move to Bayern.

Olise finished the 2025–26 season with 53 goals and assists in 52 appearances for Bayern and enters the tournament as a key player for pre-tournament favorite France. He signed off France’s final practice match against Northern Ireland with a hat-trick and has returned to his preferred right wing after spending much of 2025 and early 2026 in France’s No. 10 position. Olise’s relationship with Kylian Mbappé could be crucial.

The early stops on his journey were difficult. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all had him in their systems at youth level, but he did not remain at those clubs and Reading ultimately offered him the platform to break through. José Gomes, who was Reading’s manager when Olise debuted, described the struggles that followed those early exits.

“Before he was 14, he was at Arsenal’s youth academy, but he didn’t adapt,” Gomes said. He added: “Chelsea kicked him out for the same reason some tried to do so at Reading: because he didn’t attend classes and didn’t pay attention to his studies.”

Gomes also recalled the Manchester City episode: “At [Manchester] City, it was because his teammates laughed at him. He had weak arms, and English boys were strong. When the fitness coach told them to do push ups, he struggled a lot, and his teammates mocked him. He felt humiliated and left.”

At Reading Gomes put Olise through a tough apprenticeship in training before handing him his debut. “I told my players not to hold back when it came to tackling him hard in training so he could learn what professional soccer is like. Michael complained and cried … he didn’t understand it at the time. I told him that if he could endure a week of his teammates’ defensive actions without crying, I’d call him up. In the end, it was two weeks, and when I thought he was ready, I called him up.” Olise made his Reading debut in March 2019 at 17.

That combination of resilience and subsequent form at Bayern has placed him among France’s influential options heading into the 2026/27 international season.

Summer will bring the familiar long negotiations and headline-grabbing speculation as clubs pursue a handful of marquee targets. Here are five stories most likely to shape the window.

Yan Diomande’s rise has been swift. Up until November 2024 he was in a youth academy in Florida, then moved from the United States to Leganés before an eye-catching switch to RB Leipzig last summer. The 19-year-old has recorded 13 goals and nine assists in an astonishing debut season with Leipzig and is now attracting Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. Reports value him around €100 million (£87m, $116m). Diomande will represent Côte d’Ivoire at the World Cup, a factor likely to complicate and prolong any transfer.

Enzo Fernández publicly cast doubt over his future during the March international break after flirting with Real Madrid. Speculation over his Chelsea exit has intensified with Manchester City joining the race and Enzo Maresca seen as the likely successor to Pep Guardiola. There is a sense that Chelsea’s final day defeat to Sunderland was Fernández’s last outing for the club, and he looks increasingly unlikely to spearhead Xabi Alonso’s revolution at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are reportedly demanding around £120 million ($161 million), and the player’s participation at the World Cup for Argentina will delay any resolution.

Julián Álvarez remains a central talking point. Having stayed at Atlético Madrid for the 2025/26 campaign, the 26-year-old appears destined to leave Spain’s capital before next season. Barcelona are favourites and are preparing to launch a first official bid of roughly €100 million (£87m, $116m), though Atlético may seek more. Arsenal are also interested despite already possessing Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Elliot Anderson’s stock has risen sharply after a breakthrough season with Nottingham Forest and an England call-up for the World Cup. Interest from Manchester City and Manchester United looks significant, with City seemingly in the driving seat despite Guardiola’s exit. It could take about £100 million ($134 million) to complete that move. Anderson’s midfield compatriot Adam Wharton finished the campaign by leading Crystal Palace to Conference League glory, adding to the FA Cup won last term, and Palace face Europe-wide interest. Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd have all been mentioned, with Palace valuing Wharton at approximately £100 million ($134 million).

Arsenal closed the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in a match that felt like a deliberate exercise in squad management. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after Gabriel Martinelli toe-poked the ball to him; Jesus broke past Jefferson Lerma and placed his near-post drive just beyond Dean Henderson.

Three minutes into the second half Noni Madueke added a second when he side-footed a volley from Martinelli’s corner to make it 2-0. Madueke was the most consistent attacking threat on the night and produced the game’s busiest offensive performance. Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back with a late header flick in the 89th minute, and Palace thought they had an equaliser in stoppage time only for it to be ruled offside.

Both clubs clearly prioritised upcoming fixtures. Arsenal had already secured the Premier League title and rested several regulars. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, David Raya, Declan Rice and Gabriel were omitted from the starting lineup. The former three did not train on Thursday and each had individual programmes; Saliba and Raya were not called up. Gabriel entered as a second-half substitute.

Crystal Palace are also focused on the near future, preparing for the Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. The two sides used heavily rotated squads and a subdued tempo, with an emphasis on protecting fitness ahead of their cup finals.

Substitutions had impact: Kai Havertz, introduced at half-time, set up the Madueke goal shortly after coming on. Eberechi Eze received a standing ovation from the home fans when he entered. Madueke later suffered an apparent left leg issue and was replaced by Victor Gyökeres.

Match metrics underline Arsenal’s control: 61% possession to Palace’s 39%, expected goals 2.56 to 1.11, 17 total shots to 8, seven shots on target to three, and a pass accuracy of 89% versus 79%. The result completed a low-risk finish to the league campaign as both clubs now turn attention to major cup finals.