Crystal Palace’s hope of a return for Wilfried Zaha this summer has come to a halt after initial talks over a switch for the winger.
The 31-year-old left Selhurst Park last summer, leaving as a free agent to join Galatasaray after an eight-year stint at the club.
It was Wilfried Zaha’s second spell with the Eagles, having previously come through the Crystal Palace academy ranks before being snapped up by Manchester United in 2013.
The Ivory Coast international didn’t have the greatest of spells at Old Trafford, eventually returning to London just two years later.
By the time he left Crystal Palace in 2023, Zaha had racked up over 450 appearances with 90 goals and 62 assists.
As a result, he was always seen as a fan favourite, helping his club secure Premier League status time after time.
The switch to Turkey came with the dream of Champions League football, but after 43 appearances, his future at Galatasaray remains uncertain.
That’s where Crystal Palace’s transfer interest in Zaha comes about, but talks appear to be on hold for now.
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Wilfried Zaha to Crystal Palace transfer latest
Amid questions over his future, Zaha has returned to training at Galatasaray this week, having been absent from the first Turkish Super Lig match of the season.
That’s according to The Athletic, which claims that the forward has fallen down the pecking order at his current club.
That has led to Crystal Palace and rivals Leicester City eyeing a loan move for Zaha this summer, but there is an issue that could stop a return to the Premier League.
The report claims that tax implications may stop a deal, due to the liabilities he would have upon a move to England.
It’s an issue that could stunt the move, though time will tell if it’s something that changes in the weeks ahead.
Should Crystal Palace push to sign Wilfried Zaha?
Should those tax concerns be alleviated, the question remains of whether Crystal Palace should re-sign Zaha or not.
On the one hand, the winger’s send-off as a Crystal Palace legend was an ideal end to his journey at the club and any spoiling of that may cause issues on a sentimental basis.
There’s also the potential financial implications of a deal, depending on how much Galatasaray are demanding for a loan.
However, if it is just a loan then there’s no obligation to factor a 31-year-old player into the plans, while it would add instant quality to Oliver Glasner’s squad.
Not to mention that it would be a quick transition period for Zaha, having known the club well from his time there.
While plenty of key stars look set to move on or question their futures, having the stability of someone like the forward for one year while this change is ongoing could be key.
That’s all while young options like Matheus Franca and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi look to develop themselves over the next 12 months.
In all, it could be a low-risk deal if done right, but a lot may depend on issues outside of the club’s control.
