Wilfried Zaha would become a free agent with his £200,000 a week contract offer from Crystal Palace expiring TOMORROW night
- Zaha still has doubts about his future and weighs his realistic options
- Zaha, 30, will become a free agent and his bid for Palace expires on Friday evening
- Palace have offered Zaha a new long-term deal worth £200,000 a week
Wilfried Zaha officially becomes a free agent with his historic contract offer at Crystal Palace which expires on Friday night.
The Ivory Coast international is still unsure about his future and is considering his realistic options for next season.
One of those options is staying at Palace, a club where he has become an icon.
The Eagles have offered Zaha a new long-term contract worth £200,000 a week.
However, that deal officially expires Friday at midnight. As it stands, Zaha has yet to accept the new deal at Palace and a positive resolution is unlikely to materialize before the official deadline.
Zaha becomes a free agent with his contract offer at Crystal Palace which expires on Friday
They have offered Zaha a new long-term deal, reportedly worth £200,000 a week
Zaha has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out at the end of last season
But Zaha and Palace remain in regular talks, despite the likelihood of the contract remaining unsigned after the June 30 close.
Palace are desperate for Zaha, who is due to marry later this summer, to stay and can give him every chance to commit his future to the club after the deadline.
The contract offer to Zaha is the most lucrative deal they have ever offered a player.
Another possible scenario is Palace re-signing Zaha as a free agent, in a move that would see him remain at Selhurst Park as a ‘new signing’.
Zaha has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out at the end of last season and is being treated by Palace.
The 30-year-old attacker suffered muscle injuries that forced him to miss crucial games towards the end of last season.
These injuries have probably been taken into account by interested clubs, given the statistical approach that European parties use for recruitment.
One of the factors that will play a role in determining his future for Zaha is his desire to play Champions League football.
Zaha would like to join a club that can offer him an immediate opportunity to play in the league or one that can realistically challenge him to qualify.
To this end, Lazio – who will play in the Champions League next season – has a concrete interest in Zaha.
However, it is clear that the Italian side would not suit the money on offer at Crystal Palace.
Fenerbache have also shown interest in the 30-year-old and have qualified for the Europa Conference League next season.
Palace are desperate for Zaha, who is due to marry later this summer, to stay and possibly give him every chance to commit his future to the club after the deadline
The idea of living and playing in Istanbul, known as a hotbed of football, is likely to appeal to Zaha, but the lack of participation in the Champions League could be a factor.
But Fenerbahce’s position in Turkish football will give Zaha the opportunity to play Champions League football in the future.
Zaha has also attracted great interest from Saudi Arabia, where he knows he can earn significantly more than the £200,000 a week offered at Selhurst Park.
Likewise, the prospect of being involved in one of the most exciting football projects in the world, plus the prospect of joining some of the world’s most high-profile stars in Saudi Arabia, will appeal to Zaha.