Wilfried Zaha has reportedly told Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club this summer. The Times are reporting that the Ivory Coast winger has told club bosses he wants his exit finalised before pre-season training starts in a month’s time.
The 28-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Selhurst Park ever since returning to his boyhood club from Manchester United in 2015, and has made no secret of his desire to play regular Champions League football.
Wilfried Zaha Tells Crystal Palace He Wants to Leave
Palace Winger Still Has Two Years Remaining on His Contract
The future of Wilfried Zaha becomes something of a transfer saga every time a new window rolls around. For the player, achieving his wish of moving to a top-level European club has been repeatedly hindered by the new contract he signed in August 2018.
That deal ties Zaha to Palace until the end of the 2022/23 season, meaning the club are under no pressure to grant him a move away, or to lower his market value in order to facilitate a transfer.
The closest Zaha came to leaving Crystal Palace was in the summer of 2019, when then-Arsenal boss Unai Emery displayed an interest in taking him across London to the Emirates Stadium. However, Palace set their asking price at £80 million, and the Gunners instead decided to bring in Nicolas Pepe from French outfit Lille.
Zaha Expected to Perform Despite Transfer Wish
Given that Zaha has established himself as his team’s talisman over his two spells at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace will expect him to perform to a high level again next season even if he again fails to get his wish of a move away from the club.
That was certainly the case at the start of the 2020/21 campaign, with former boss Roy Hodgson demanding more from Zaha and criticising the player over his focus after having been denied a transfer. By the end of the season, the winger had scored 11 goals and provided two assists in 30 Premier League appearances for the Eagles.
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