Tottenham join ‘major battle’ for Premier League star amid ‘real interest’ from Arsenal and Chelsea

Lewis Oldham 13 Dec 2022 3:51 PM

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer at the end of this season.

The 30-year-old has not been talked about much in recent weeks with the focus being on the World Cup.

But reports of him leaving Crystal Palace are likely to ramp in during the January transfer window and in the months leading up to the summer.

Zaha’s contract is due to expire in 2023 and it has been suggested that he is likely to move on.

Eagles boss Patrick Vieira claimed last month that Zaha’s situation is “not a distraction” for Palace.

“It is not (a distraction) for him and it is not for the football club as well,” the Palace boss said.

“We know how important it is for us and, again, he knows how much the fans, the club love him and we know how much he loves the football club as well.

“So the decision has to be his decision, and we will do everything in our side to keep him because he is an important player for the football club, but then we will see.

“At the moment, he is playing well, is performing well, and that is all that matters for now.”

Zaha made a great start to the 2022/23 campaign as he grabbed six goals and two assists in his first 13 Premier League appearances.

There will no shortage of clubs interested in him and now Football Insider are reporting that Tottenham are ‘keen’.

Spurs are ‘plotting to sign’ the forward as he has already ‘rejected multiple offers’ from Crystal Palace.

This is said to have ‘opened the door’ for rivals to sign him and there is expected to be a ‘major battle’.

TEAMtalk transfer expert Graeme Bailey has also waded in on Zaha’s situation.

He thinks it is more likely that the Palace man will sign for a club in Germany or France next summer.

“Wilfried Zaha can sign for another club within the next month, that is the reality facing Crystal Palace,” Bailey told TEAMtalk.

“Contract talks have taken place but a new deal for the 30-year-old does not look likely at this stage.

“Zaha still has a dream of playing in the Champions League in his career, but that only happens with a move.

“At this point, the chances of staying in England look unlikely. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have shown a real interest in the past 12 months but he is not currently seen as a top priority.

“However, there is interest abroad, especially in France with Marseille, Monaco and PSG all expressing an interest in the past 12 months.

“There is also Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig in Germany, as well as interest from Spain and Italy.”

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