Wilfried Zaha is one of the most sought-after Premier League player this current transfer window. The Crystal Palace forward has enjoyed another productive season with the London based club and is now in career limbo, do I stay? or do I go?
There is no doubting Zaha’s capabilities as a flashy winger or one-on-one forward, he has produced back to back fine seasons for the Eagles who have escaped the relegation scrap for the past few seasons. However, surely a player of Wilfried Zaha’s stature deserves to be playing at a bigger club in the Premier League or abroad in 2019.
I am personally a big fan of Crystal Palace as a club, ever since my fellow Australian Mile Jedinak made his name there as their bearded captain. But we surely have to look at Zaha’s abilities and face the reality we now see the player that Sir Alex Ferguson saw himself all those years ago that earned the Ivorian forward a move to Manchester United.
Below we will look at the clubs interested in him and shine some light into what possible destination could suit him best.
Arsenal
This is the club that is number one on Wilfried’s destination list (and also his manager, who happens to be his brother). There is no denying that this is the club that Zaha sees himself starring in. Playing alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette as well as incoming Lille forward Nicolas Pepe are far more attractive options than playing alongside a misfiring Christian Benteke.
His brother is someone who has spoken publicly of Wilfried’s interest about moving to the Emirates stadium having grown up supporting Arsenal together. There are some questions that surround Arsenal’s position with a potential transfer for Zaha. They have two world class forwards in Aubameyang and Lacazette, with the addition to Pepe, the question would be, where does Zaha fit in their system? The other big question to factor in is Unai Emery’s comments on the budget crunch at the Emirates.
They are transferring 72 million pounds over to Lille for winger/forward Nicolas Pepe, so finding another 60+ million to tempt Crystal Palace to part ways with their star man may not be available for Emery to use. Some are saying that the addition of Pepe is in fact the direction the club has gone instead of Zaha, time will tell on that matter. This is his dream move and most likely the only club he would openly push for.
Everton
Everton are the club that haven’t been caught up with transfer speculations, instead, they have just acted and submitted a couple of bids in the last week. That has been since rejected by Crystal Palace. I would be curious to see if Zaha does in fact force through a move at all to Everton. Personally, I don’t see what they can offer that is better to what Crystal Palace can offer.
Yes, Everton are closer to the top of the table and European football, but they can’t offer Zaha his demands – Champions League football. He would also be battling for a starting spot with Richarlison, Tosun and Calvert-Lewin. It has been mooted that the Merseyside club may not come back with an offer for Wilfried, so this may already be a dead-end move.
But be prepared that on deadline day they could potentially offer that same offer, or a slightly improved offer if Zaha is still available. Don’t rule this move out just yet.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are in a unique position and can potentially offer Wilfried Zaha’s best option in regards to a move away from Selhurst Park. They can offer the star forward everything he desires with this move. A handsome paycheck, Champions League football, to play in a team who challenges for the domestic title every year as well as consistent playing time.
He would only be battling ageing Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller for playing time upfront. The Bavarians are in drastic need for another forward and Zaha does fit their pedigree. He is coming into his prime and he is a proven international striker. The big reason for the push away from Crystal Palace is his desire to play Champions League football, with Everton unable to offer that for another year at least and Arsenal often flirting with automatic qualification, Bayern Munich is his best option for that personal achievements.
The downside to the move?
He has to move away from England, which he has been very open to how he loves English life and especially London life. Munich, as a city, is extremely modern and appealing whilst the Bavarians are often referred to as the ‘Hollywood club’ due to their players often indulging heavily in local lifestyles. As a club and city, I could see him fitting into the life and system effectively.
Stay at Crystal Palace
I am going to be open with my opinion here – If Zaha can’t sign for Arsenal expect him to be lining up in a Palace top on the opening day of the season. There is substantial reasoning in my opinion. He loves Crystal Palace, coming through their youth ranks in the Championship before a big (failed) 10-million-pound move to Manchester United in 2013. When that move didn’t come to fruition for him he came out and said that he only wants to move to Crystal Palace, which he did initially on loan and then permanently.
Secondly, he loves London and the life it offers. The Ivorian did play for England’s youth teams having grown up most of his life in Thornton Heath in London with his Ivorian parents and siblings. Staying at the club that has invested so much in you personally and financially is appealing as well as playing in front of an adoring crowd at Selhurst Park that would erect a statue of you sooner rather than later.
He is a fan favourite with streams of kids walking up to the ground with the number 11 on their backs hoping to see their idol play well. Crystal Palace is home and one can predict they hold a warm place in his heart. If he can’t push the Arsenal move then expect him to be running through the race in front of the Palace fans on August 11th against fellow admirers Everton.
To conclude, this transfer saga looks like it will go one of two ways. He will be either playing on the 11th of August with an Arsenal or Crystal Palace badge over his right side of his chest. He will stay and push on with the club he loves and the club that grew him as a player. Or he will be playing for the club that he grew up supporting with his brother as a London lad. If this saga goes any other direction I would be personally surprised but also intrigued to see where it does go. One thing for sure, Zaha is a top-class forward who deserves to be playing on those mid-week Champions League nights.