Ally McCoist was left stunned when he was told that Arsenal transfer target Wilfried Zaha has been offered ‘£9 million-a-year’ to move from Crystal Palace to Saudi Arabia and join up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
The former Scotland striker stated that there is ‘no chance’ that Zaha would move, but when he was told about the wage packet that is seemingly being offered to the 30-year-old, he changed his mind and suggested that he might now take up that offer.
Before Zaha can think about his future amid interest from the likes of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, he has to get Palace out of their current mess because, after losing to bitter rivals Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night, they are now on an 11-game winless run and four games without scoring.
It sees Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira under serious pressure from his own fans because Palace are now three points above the drop zone and sliding faster than anyone else.
Palace don’t want to lose Zaha in the first place, but one of their own, not just leaving, but going out on a free transfer as they get relegated, would just be a pure disaster.
Nonetheless, when discussing Zaha’s future at Selhurst Park, McCoist thinks he won’t join a team just to be a ‘squad player’ because he is an ‘excellent’ talent, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“No chance (he goes to Al-Nassr),” said McCoist. “How much have they offered him in Saudi Arabia? Oh, he will go (after being told it’s £9m-a-season). “£9m-a-year after tax!? You would go for that.
“Yeah (other Premier League teams would be interested). He’s an excellent player. He’s not going to go somewhere as a squad player, is he, Wilfried Zaha?!”
THAT MANCHESTER UNITED MOVE
The all-action winger was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signing as Manchester United’s manager and one that many will want to forget.
It was a case of Zaha going to the wrong club, at the wrong time. If Fergie hadn’t retired, then things might have been different for the player.
But, nevermind Zaha trying to swim in the deep end at Old Trafford, he was joined by David Moyes, who was struggling just as much, before being booted out.
In the end, that move for Zaha has perhaps been a dark cloud over the player because he has enough quality to be playing for a team that’s already in Europe, whether that’s in the Premier League or abroad.
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