Gareth Southgate claims Michael Olise did not have enough time to switch international allegiance to England ahead of Euro 2024.
The Crystal Palace midfielder started just 14 Premier League games this season due to injury but has been one of the division’s standout performers with 10 goals and six assists.
The 22-year-old was born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother and is eligible to play for all four nations.
He has made appearances for France at Under-18 and Under-21 level but has not featured for the senior side under Didier Deschamps.
Olise will now miss Euro 2024 altogether after he was not named in France’s squad, while Southgate admits England were unable to make a move in time.
‘He [Olise] would have to have a transfer of association,’ Southgate said.
That process would take quite a while.
‘He is obviously a very good player, he hasn’t made their squad. They might be taking him to the Olympics, I don’t know.
‘He is a player we should have an interest in because he is a very good player but there is no way you could do all of that in time for the Euros.’
Meanwhile, Southgate insists Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who was a surprise inclusion in England’s provisional squad on Tuesday, is in contention to make the final cut for Euro 2024.
‘Everyone has a chance. There are some players that we wanted to see,’ Southgate said.
‘The reason for a longer squad, we were in a similar position in the last Euros and more time will help us make better decisions and give a better balance to the squad.
‘There are some injury issues that are very obvious and apparent and there are some where we don’t have the full information. We need to see some of them and see how they react to training.
‘It’s as complicated a squad as I can remember picking. We have time so I think this will help us make better decisions.’