BREAKING NEWS: Manchester City has made its first signing of the transfer window, and medical appointments have already been scheduled.

Manchester United has a history of acquiring players from other Premier League clubs, with notable examples including Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes, and Mateo Kovacic. Now, a former Manchester City executive has identified a Premier League talent he believes would thrive in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Stuart Pearce, when asked on talkSPORT about Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise potentially playing for a top club, expressed confidence in the young player’s abilities, stating, “I’ve seen him a few times recently, so the answer is yes.” He clarified, however, that he wasn’t referring to Manchester United but rather to Manchester City.

Pearce recalled watching Olise’s performance against Chelsea, noting that despite Palace’s loss, Olise stood out as the best player on the pitch. He praised the player’s skillful ball handling and awareness on when to retain possession, indicating that he could easily envision Olise donning a City jersey.

At just 22 years old, Olise’s journey began at City’s academy, where he spent a year before moving to Reading. In 2021, he made a switch to Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £8 million. Since joining Palace, Olise has made 80 appearances across all competitions, contributing 11 goals and providing 20 assists.

Although he has participated in only nine Premier League matches this season, Olise has scored five goals and has created more chances than any other player in the league, tallying 20 key passes and an impressive average of 5.85 shots per 90 minutes.

This performance indicates his potential fit within a high-scoring team like Manchester City, which has netted more goals than any other club in the Premier League this season.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has also praised Olise, describing him as a “wonderful” player with the potential for a successful career. Hodgson’s endorsement aligns with Pearce’s assessment, suggesting that if Olise were to transfer to City, he could realize that potential and excel further in his career.

With both the manager and the former executive recognizing Olise’s talent, there is a growing belief that he could become a valuable addition to Guardiola’s squad if the opportunity arises.