Ivory Coast international Wilfried Zaha is eyeing a move to Liverpool after his Crystal Palace contract expires, according to reports.
The former Manchester United man rejoined his boyhood club in 2015 and has grown into one of their most important players since then.
A transfer has been touted for over three seasons now, with Arsenal and Chelsea being rumoured destinations. However, none of those moves materialised for Zaha, who has made it clear in the past that he would like to move to a club that competes for titles.
Currently in the final year of his latest Crystal Palace contract, Zaha, 29, has now emerged as a target for Liverpool, who have a depleted squad due to injury. Reports now claim that the Eagles man is keen on the move.
Zaha has been Palace’s standout player this season, chipping in with five goals in nine games and assisting one more. This has led to calls within the fan base to the leadership of the club to resolve his future as soon as possible.
He is free to talk to clubs outside of England from January and can move to club’s within England at the end of the season. This possibility, however, does not phase Patrick Vieira, Palace manager, who claimed that he is not worried about Zaha’s contract situation.
Italian outlet Calciomercato broke the news about Zaha’s interest in moving to Anfield, stating that the winger would prefer a move in January if he had his way. The Reds lost Sadio Mane at the beginning of the season but have capable replacements in Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
Zaha, however, is of a closer profile to Mane and the Reds are being reported as considering a cut-price deal for the Ivory Coast forward in January, especially with both Diaz and Jota out injured.
Former Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Arsenal to go back into the race for Zaha, whose path out of Crystal Palace is much clearer than when they first inquired about his services. He also believes Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea could use a player like him.
“I don’t think that he’s missed his chance [to move to Arsenal],” Agbonlahor said on TalkSport. “Knowing that his contract is up next summer, he can go on a free transfer to a big club.
“I mean if you’re an Arsenal, Spurs or Chelsea, you’re snapping him up on a three-year contract at the age of 30.
“He’s been playing in the Premier League for a long time but his hunger is still there and he lifts the crowd.
“He’s a great player and hopefully he gets that big move.”
