Rumours surrounding Wilfried Zaha’s future have been circulating for months now, yet with the January transfer window looming, we are still unaware where the winger wants to play his football.
Since returning from injury at the start of October, the former Manchester United man has seen a real upturn in form.
His goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in his first game back ensured the Eagles of their first league win and he was there again last time out to help Palace sink Leicester City 3-0.
However, with the solid displays comes the interest from the onlooking Premier League clubs higher up the table. While consistency has been Zaha’s biggest downfall in the past, the 26-year-old appears to have hit a purple patch that has no intention of fading.
So, what Premier League outfit would best fit his credentials and ambition. He has a host of clubs to choose from and come January this list will only increase.
Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are interested parties to name a few but you cannot help but feel that if the Ivorian is to opt for a big six move, he must choose wisely.
He is very much a confidence player and for him to perform at his dazzling best, he needs first team football, something the Premier League’s elite may not be able to offer him.
Take Manchester City, a switch there may give him trophies, but he will stand in the shadows of Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling, plus any new recruit that tickles their fancy come the summer.
At Arsenal his opportunities to start may come quick and fast but, one bad performance and he will be quickly shunned to the side-lines.
Although considering the competition for places at the Emirates Stadium with Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Alexis Sanchez all playing in similar positions, this could end up working in Zaha’s favour.
It will give him the added motivation he escapes at Palace, he is manager Roy Hodgson’s star man and one of the first names on the team-sheet. Something which may play on the winger’s mentality, not having to perform to the best of his ability to stay in the team week in week out.
For Arsenal he is the type of a player they lack, especially with Walcott constantly nursing mid-season injuries, the Gunners need a player who has the pace and unpredictability to take on their opponent.
They have the mastery of Mesut Ozil, the work rate and brilliance of Sanchez but they don’t hold a player who can take a defence’s attention away from their key men.
Chelsea are another team reportedly looking to reel Zaha in as they look to bolster their wide attacking options.
While Zaha does not boast the best goal scoring record with four in 12 appearances, he can certainly add to the Premier League’s third highest scoring team (32).
However, would the 3-4-3 formation that manager Antonio Conte envisages his Chelsea side to play bode well with Zaha.
The Ivory Coast international will be allowed to venture forward and may be relieved of his defensive duties opposed to the ones he has playing at Palace.
Having said this, Tottenham Hotspur may just be the pick of the bunch,under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino he could go onto great things.
The North London outfit have been crying out for a winger to accompany Erik Lamela and Son Heung-Min since the start of the season.
Zaha could act as the player needed to put Spurs back in the hunt for a top four finish. He possesses the raw characteristics Tottenham have garnered in previous years.
Alongside Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, the Palace man could provide Spurs with the attacking impetus needed to finish sides off.
Pochettino’s men have drawn the most games compared to their big six rivals suggesting that they need a player who can contribute to talisman Harry Kane’s scoring streak.
The uncertainty as to whether Zaha will brave an exit from Selhurst Park come January remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, should the winger look to leave, Pochettino’s Tottenham could be his safest bet.
