Former Reading midfielder Lawrie Sanchez urged Michael Olise to reject interest from Leeds, and other clubs, to stay in the Championship this week

With Olise possessing an £8m release clause in his Royals contract, Sanchez expects teams to pay it, including Leeds.

“I read somewhere there’s an £8m release clause – I’m sure clubs will offer that this year for him I’ve no doubt.

“For me another year at Reading wouldn’t do him any harm – they almost got into the play-offs this year and it helped him develop and another year’s development isn’t a bad thing," he said.

Described as a "super-talented" midfielder by Reading boss Veljko Paunovic in 2020, the boss iterated a similar trail of thought to Sanchez, suggesting he still needs to develop and continue to learn as a player. He told Four Four Two:

“Michael is super talented. He had a very good game.

“We acknowledge Michael’s talent but he also has to keep learning. He still needs to grow. He still has things that he can implement in the future and be an even better player.

“This is why I encourage him not to get content with what he is right now but to go on and show what he can be."

Despite his need to improve as a footballer, Leeds fans would be buzzing if Victor Orta is able to secure a deal for Olise this summer. The midfielder is a superb young talent and could add an extra dimension to Leeds' attacking options in the final third.

He could give Marcelo Bielsa another left-footed attacker to work with, whilst Olise has the versatility to play anywhere across the frontline. That could allow Bielsa to tinker with his formation in-game to exploit teams. This is why Orta must sanction a swoop for the promising prospect.

Olise has played on both wings, as an attacking midfielder, as a striker and as a central midfielder for Reading in the Championship. This shows that the teenager has the quality to fulfil a multitude of roles within a side, an outstanding quality.

it doesn't restrict him to being a one-trick pony who can only be used - for example - as a right winger. If Leeds suffer an injury in any position across the attack, Bielsa could trust that Olise has the ability to come in and replace them.

The £8m dynamo has also shown that he has the quality in terms of performances to potentially make the step up to the Premier League.

The gem averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.06 for Reading, as he produced seven goals and 12 assists from midfield. This earned him the Championship Young Player of the Year award, which suggests he has the potential to improve further.

Bielsa could enjoy working with the forward on the training pitch to develop his game, something he's done with a plethora of Leeds players, the best example being Kalvin Phillips. Therefore, fans would be delighted if Orta can get this deal over the line as Olise could be a great player for the future.

AND in other news, Concerning Leeds transfer update emerges on "magic" £24k-p/w gem, Orta will be gutted...