The stunning Crystal Palace transfer target whose arrival would break the internet
The Eagles have been linked with this familiar face as we enter the final weeks of the transfer window.
Crystal Palace have welcomed some strong new recruits to the team this summer, with Ismaïla Sarr, Chadi Riad and Daichi Kamada all arriving ready for the 2024/25 season. However, the biggest focus so far has been on their outgoings and further potential exit links.
Star winger Michael Olise was a hot target for plenty of clubs before his eventual move to Germany. The 22-year-old hit 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League appearances last season, impressing and attracting interest despite suffering two lengthy injury setbacks.
Olise’s decision to sign for Bayern Munich disappointed Palace’s league rivals, including Liverpool and Manchester United, who are both looking to bolster their wide options this summer. The Eagles have not yet escaped the cross hairs either, as both Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi remain highly sought-after targets for clubs within the Premier League and overseas.
Losing three key players this summer will be a huge blow to Palace, especially after they impressed with some statement performances last campaign. There is a new story that will definitely pique the interest of Eagles fans, though, and it doesn’t involve some potentially departing players. In fact, it concerns the potential return of a club icon.
According to The Telegraph, Wilfried Zaha could well be in line for a third stint at Selhurst Park. The report claims that the winger — who only left the club last summer to sign for Galatasaray — is in line for a Premier League return after the club ‘agreed’ he can pursue a move away.
Zaha left Palace just over a year ago as a free agent and was snapped up by the Turkish outfit, ending his eight-year second spell in red and blue. The 31-year-old is said to be on quite a significant salary with Galatasaray, and so they are green-lighting a loan move, for a fee of £9 million, which is understood to cover some of his wages.
The report claims that the Premier League is the likely destination for Zaha and with his proven record both in the top flight and with Palace, his former side are ‘among those’ prepared to pay the fee to bring him in.
The Ivory Coast international served as a key part of Crystal Palace’s set-up for such a long time and has undoubtedly established himself as a legend of the club. Bringing him back, even just temporarily, would be a huge move from the Eagles and will certainly soften the blow of any further sales of important players.
The 31-year-old is not only a huge threat in front of goal but his versatility will be a very welcome returning asset for Palace. Zaha is most influential on the left but he has operated on the right, as a centre-forward and even deeper in the midfield when called upon over the years.
His ability to slip into almost any attacking position with ease will give Palace a huge boost facing tough rivals, and those clubs will certainly not be too happy to have to defend against him again either. Zaha’s best record is against Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, with eight goals scored against both of them throughout his career.
Even the most sturdy defences in the Premier League have struggled to contain Zaha over the years. His return to Selhurst Park would be like unearthing an old secret weapon, tried and tested plenty of times to cause major upset to rivals.