What Michael Olise to Chelsea deal means for Noni Madueke amid Man Utd transfer battle

Noni Madueke could not have made his target for the 2023/24 season any clearer.

"Next season for me is just about becoming one of the top players in my position in the league and contributing to wins with goals and assists and helping my teammates," the winger said almost a year to the day. "That's my aim."

Did he do that? No, not quite. But overall, it can be viewed as a progressive season from Madueke's perspective.

Almost 12 months after setting what was a fairly ambitious target, Madueke said: "It's been ups and downs, individually and collectively. There have been a lot of learning moments and I have learned a lot about myself.

"I have had to show resilience at times because I started the season injured and that was not ideal. It was tough to take. I came back and then had another niggle after the international break so I missed a few games again.

"There is a reason all of those things happened and it probably made me stronger mentally and in my character. I have learned to just keep going because you never know how the journey is meant to go, but you can control the details every day in terms of your work ethic and application."

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As the 22-year-old mentioned, it was an injury-riddled start to the campaign for him. In the new year, though, Madueke managed to keep himself fit and became a big part of the Chelsea setup under now-departed head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

After being left on the bench for three straight Premier League games against Manchester City, Brentford and Newcastle United, Madueke then featured in every match from there until the end of the league season. He actually started Chelsea's final nine matches.

The former PSV Eindhoven winger finished the season on eight goals and three assists in all competitions - which is by no means a disastrous return in 34 games. But you always feel like with Madueke that you want more.

He has not been able to find the consistency level to cement his status as a key player within the squad. And it is part of the reason the club are actively looking for a new right winger this summer.

Michael Olise's name is doing the rounds again on the Chelsea-related sections of social media. Everyone seems to be pretty unanimous with their desire for the Blues to go out and sign the Crystal Palace winger.

Olise had a sparkling season at Selhurst Park last time around, albeit his campaign was also heavily disrupted by injury problems. But what the 22-year-old has shown during his time with the Eagles is that he can be destructive in the final third and Chelsea are missing that from wide areas.

Enzo Maresca, who begins his role as Chelsea head coach at the start of next month, likes his wide players to get really involved in every attacking phase of play. Having someone of the calibre of Olise in his side could be the difference for the newly-appointed boss in his debut season at the club.

It would, though, mean a considerable less amount of time on the pitch for Madueke. Olise, though, has struggled with injuries throughout the early stages of his professional career. So there should be game time available for Madueke.

With increased competition for his spot, though, Madueke would really have to step it up. It feels like there is something inside Madueke ready to explode but Chelsea have not found the detonator just yet.