Journalist hints at Wilfried Zaha’s next move with Arsenal, Chelsea interested – ‘Mikel Arteta is a fan’

Wilfried Zaha’s time at Crystal Palace “could be coming to an end” amid reports linking him with a summer move to Arsenal or Chelsea.

Zaha has regularly been linked with a move away from Crystal Palace over the past couple of seasons.

He arguably enjoyed his best season in a Palace shirt last term as he netted 14 goals in the Premier League. So far this campaign, he has six goals and two assists in 19 league outings.

Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly plotted a move for Zaha during the latter stages of the summer transfer window last year. With his contract up this June, Palace valued him at £30m but their rivals ultimately ran out of time. 

Zaha remained at Palace but he is yet to commit his future to the club ahead of the end of his deal at the end of this season.

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has revealed that there is “no imminent sign that he is willing to extend his deal”. He also notes the interest in him from Arsenal and Chelsea.

“It certainly seems that Wilf Zaha’s stellar career at Crystal Palace could be coming to an end,” Crook told talkSPORT.

“His contract is up at the end of the season – no imminent sign that he is willing to extend.

“And if he is to go and achieve his ambitions of playing for a top club, it’s now or never really isn’t it?

“When you look at his age, the fact that he’s available as a free agent, he either commits his future to Crystal Palace and then probably sees out his top-flight career there.

“Or he goes off and tests himself, I think there will be suitors, I know Mikel Arteta is a fan, I know that Chelsea have certainly taken a look at him in the past as well.

“And I think there are big clubs in Europe who would be interested in a player of Wilf Zaha’s quality.”

He added: “I wouldn’t rule out a move abroad, I can see that happening.”

Former Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose thinks Zaha “gets into any squad in the Premier League”.

“It’s so difficult because if he doesn’t move this summer, I think that’s him going to be at Crystal Palace for the rest of his career,” Ambrose said.

“I’ve said this many times, and I’m going to say it again – I think he gets into any squad in the Premier League.

“I’m not saying he would walk into the Man City or Arsenal teams, but he’s good enough to be in the squads of those clubs.”

He continued: “I think he could play for a top four side in the Premier League, I really do.”

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