Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Jurgen Klopp plans to make cheeky raid on Crystal Palace grounded as Patrick Vieira offers ice-cool response over Liverpool links

Eberechi Eze, Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Newcastle United

Liverpool are reportedly considering an approach to sign Wilfried Zaha with his Crystal Palace contract nearing its end and talk of a free-transfer switch to Anfield gathering pace.

The Ivorian star is regarded as one of the Premier League’s most-talented stars. He is regularly seen as the Eagles’ go-to man, and is the club’s leading goalscorer in Premier League history with 66 strikes. Zaha also sits 10th on the club’s all-time top goalscoring charts.

However, his contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire next summer, giving Palace a potential headache. They have seen Zaha lured away before, when he made a 2013 switch to Manchester United.

And while that move never worked out, he was soon back at Selhurst Park, where he has starred for the last eight seasons.

Having scored 14 Premier League goals last season and already having five in nine this, his absence would leave Palace with a huge hole to fill.

Indeed, he was on the scoresheet on Tuesday night, scoring the winner as Palace came from behind to beat Wolves.

That lifts Patrick Vieira’s side up to 10th in the Premier League standings – with Zaha’s heroics once again grabbing the headlines.

And according to reports in Italy, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is beginning to show interest in his signature.

Landing a player of Zaha’s abilities on a free transfer next summer is an obvious appeal to Klopp, reports Calciomercato. The Reds may reportedly even look to lure the player in January, when a cut-price transfer could twist Palace’s arm.

They are not the only side seemingly keen either. To that end, reports last week suggested Arsenal, Chelsea and Roma are also eyeing moves.

Patrick Vieira staying cool on Wilfried Zaha future

However, despite growing speculation over Zaha’s future, Vieira insists he is not having sleepless nights over his star man.

Speaking after the Selhurst Park win over Wolves, the Frenchman cut a relaxed figure when questioned on Zaha.

“It’s not an issue at all,” said Vieira.

“Wilfried knows what the club thinks about him and we know what he thinks about the club.

“There will be a discussion taking place but for myself and for the club what is important is for him to play at this level and to be consistent and to help those young players around him to grow. Then, we’ll see what will happen.”

Vieira has even challenged Zaha to further improve his game, adding more consistency and reckons he can do that at Crystal Palace.

“When Wilfried has a good day I would say the team has a good day,” Vieira added. “He’s an important player on and off the field, he’s got the experience and today he was really good in possession, out of possession, he worked really hard.

“But we want him to have these kinds of performances, to be consistent and to allow us to follow him. Every player has to play at the level that we all know they can do.

“Wilfried can work with them, can be a positive example on how clinical you can be in front of goal. We’re talking about Michael (Olise) and Ebs (Eberechi Eze). They are young talent, they still have a lot to learn, but they are in a good place at the moment.”

Now or never for Zaha

Having moved to Manchester United as a raw 20-year-old nine years ago, many felt the move to Old Trafford came too soon for Zaha.

Indeed, plenty felt he froze under the pressures that come with playing for the Red Devils. That said, he managed just four appearances in total, with some feeling he never got a fair crack of the whip.

His time back at Palace though has been the making of him.

Since then, reports have regularly linked Zaha with moves elsewhere. That was probably never stronger than in 2019 when Arsenal came calling. A move to the club he supported as a boy seemingly came close too, before the Gunners were priced out and instead opted for Nicolas Pepe.

But now, with his contract nearing its expiry, it is very much a case of now or never for Zaha. The winger will turn 30 in November and if he does not make the move away now, you feel the chance may never arrive for him again.

It all depends though what the player wants. By moving to Liverpool, for example, he would be a small fish in a big pond. To that end, he would not be getting regular games week in, week out in their star-studded attack.

But a move there would offer him a more genuine chance at winning trophies.

However, it would also surprise few were he to agree a new deal at Palace. They are his home and the club where he is adored by his public. It would be hard to imagine that adulation replicated at any other side.

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