Speaking on The Five Insider, David Ornstein has been discussing Wilfried Zaha’s future amid links to both Liverpool, via CalcioMercato, and Arsenal, via Ben Jacobs.
The Ivorian winger is out of contract at the end of the season, and unsurprisingly, there are some big clubs sniffing around the attacker at this moment in time.
Liverpool and Arsenal are amongst the teams keen, and they may be in luck as Ornstein says that while Crystal Palace are desperate to keep Zaha, many in the game believe he’s oing to leave for free.
Zaha set to depart
Ornstein shared what he knows about Zaha.
“Well, Crystal Palace would dearly love to sign Zaha to a new contract I am sure, but with free agency looming, he’s never had that big move,” Ornstein said.
“We’ve seen Arsenal heavily consider him before they got Nicolas Pepe in 2019. We’ve seen Tottenham heavily linked a various points, we’ve seen Chelsea consider him at various points.
“Palace value him so highly because they know that without him there’s a good chance they could be in a relegation scrap and if they were relegated, what would that fee be worth in terms of the revenue and prestige you lose if you go down?”
“There will be a number of clubs who look at this as a free agent. Palace will push to negotiate, I’m not sure if there are talks at this time, but many in the game feel he will hold out and go as a Bosman free agent and play in the Champions League – a level many people think he belongs at.”
Bargain of the decade
Be it Arsenal, Liverpool or some other club, whoever gets Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer will be getting the bargain of a lifetime.
This is a player ready-made for Champions League football. He can take any game by the scruff of the neck and cause any defender nightmares.
This is probably Zaha’s last chance to get a big move, and he needs to choose wisely where he goes next, but it has to be said a move to Arsenal would make a lot of sense.
Mikel Arteta’s side play a beautiful attacking style, and he could be brilliant in rotation with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on both flanks.
One thing is for sure, Zaha’s situation is certainly one to keep an eye on.
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