Wilfried Zaha: one-man transfer rumour, football gossip column stalwart, Crystal Palace player for… potentially not much longer.
The ‘will-he-won’t-he’ saga has seemingly rumbled on for longer than questions over Ross and Rachel on Friends, ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ by the Clash the soundtrack to each of his summers. But this year is different.
His contract expires in summer 2023, meaning if he fails to pen a new deal, he will be a free agent, and clubs outside England can approach to sign him for nothing from January – now less than two months away.
Zaha is the star player at Selhurst Park, maybe the best player in the club’s history – although Ian Wright might have something to say about that – and has left an indelible mark on their history.
In 2012-13, Zaha scored eight goals (second top), assisted eight (top), scored twice in the play-off semi-final against bitter rivals Brighton, won the penalty which sent them to the Premier League and has, arguably, single-handedly kept them there since.
As a big fish in a small-ish pond, the Ivorian forward has attracted attention from several top European clubs since summer 2017, when he signed his current contract, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United credited with interest.
So if he decides to leave SE25, he will have plenty of suitors. But would he fit in at any of England’s or Europe’s big hitters? Below, Sportsmail‘s Max Mathews analyses the situation and suggests where Zaha could go next.
Crystal Palace’s star forward Wilfried Zaha (pictured) might not be at the club much longer
The Eagles’ talisman’s contract expires at the end of the season and he is yet to sign a new deal
The Man United experiment
After sending Palace up in his final act for the club before his £15million move to Manchester United, the eyes of the world were on the sparkling 20-year-old wonderkid.
He was the last signing for legendary Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement, gifting Zaha to his successor David Moyes.
But after giving him his debut in the Community Shield, Moyes, out of his depth and with his side desperately struggling for form, did not want to put his faith in a youngster and sent him on loan in January to Cardiff, where Zaha was miserable.
Zaha was barely given a chance at Manchester United after a £15million move to Old Trafford
After a difficult pre-season when Zaha, then exclusively a winger, was shunted between striker and wing-back in new manager…