UK Edition
Wilfried Zaha prepared to make Manchester United return as Crystal Palace value him at £100m
Wilfried Zaha is prepared to re-join Manchester United if they bid for him this summer.
The 26-year-old winger has informed Crystal Palace that he is determined to leave and will push for a move which is expected to lead to a prolonged transfer saga.
Palace are demanding a fee of £100million before they would even consider a deal. Interest has been expressed by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund but they are not expected to go anywhere near that valuation which would represent a record for a British club.
Arsenal are in the market for a wide forward and are considering a move for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser who would be considerably cheaper than Zaha.
United are also monitoring the situation over a player who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signing when he was bought in 2013 for £10million but who left on loan the following January to Cardiff City and then returned to Palace, also initially on loan, after struggling for first-team opportunities under David Moyes and then Louis Van Gaal.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport in 2015 Zaha spoke of how he was left feeling “worthless” at United and of his frustration at not playing following his move.
Nevertheless there is a now a sense that Zaha has unfinished business at United, would back himself to be a success and would seriously consider a return to Old Trafford should a bid be made.
Zaha wants to join a bigger club and one with ambitions to play in European competition and ideally in the Champions League and believes he has done all he can at Palace and should be allowed to go.
It is understood that Palace want £100million although there is a sense that a fee of £70million might be acceptable – which is denied by the club. Even that lower fee may also be too much for clubs interested in him this summer.
Palace believe that Zaha, whose contract runs until 2023 after he signed a new deal last year, is worth the higher amount given his status as one of the most impressive players in the Premier League and his importance to them.
Zaha would consider a move abroad and there is interest from Dortmund especially if they sell England international Jadon Sancho, which appears unlikely despite existing interest from United, and having already sold Christian Pulisic to Chelsea.
It may be that Palace would accept a lower bid from a foreign club but, again, that is being denied.
Zaha met with Palace chairman Steve Parish following the club’s final game of the season on Sunday and confirmed that he feels the time is right for him to move on. He has pleaded with Palace not to stand in his way believing he has done all he can.
Zaha is concerned that he will be priced out of a move and while Palace will listen to offers they are saying they will stick to their valuation for the Ivory Coast international.
If Zaha is sold it reduces the chances that Palace will consider any offers for Aaron Wan-Bissaka with the England Under-21 international right-back already attracting significant interest from a number of leading Premier League clubs.