Many people now expect £130k-a-week star to leave on a free transfer, after summer links with Chelsea – Ornstein

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Wilfried Zaha may reportedly leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season on a free transfer, which is interesting to note given Chelsea were linked to him in the recent summer transfer window.

90min claimed in August that Chelsea’s co-owner Todd Boehly was interested in the idea of bringing Zaha to Stamford Bridge.

The 29-year-old winger remained in Palace colours beyond the summer window, scoring five goals in nine Premier League games so far this season.

However, the £130,000-a-week player’s current deal currently expires next summer.

Zaha may leave Palace on a free transfer

David Ornstein, who’s a well-respected football journalist, has delivered an intriguing line on the Palace talisman.

Apparently, there are many in the football community that expect the skilful attacker may exit Selhurst Park at the end of this campaign when his contract expires in 2023.

“Well, Crystal Palace would dearly love to sign Zaha to a new contract I am sure, but with free agency looming, he’s never had that big move,” Ornstein said on The Five Insider.

“We’ve seen Arsenal heavily consider him before they got Nicolas Pepe in 2019. We’ve seen Tottenham heavily linked a various points, we’ve seen Chelsea consider him at various points.

“There will be a number of clubs who look at this as a free agent. Palace will push to negotiate, I’m not sure if there are talks at this time, but many in the game feel he will hold out and go as a Bosman free agent and play in the Champions League – a level many people think he belongs at.”

Graham Potter is now tasked with trying to get the best from a group of Chelsea attackers that, on paper, do look strong.

It does feel like the Blues still lack a creative spark in the final third, though.

If available on a free transfer, Zaha must be a tempting transfer target for so many sides in the Premier League.

It would be very interesting to see how the left-winger copes in a bigger dressing room and with more talented teammates because he’s so often got a lot of the Palace pressure on his shoulders, something he deals with immensely.

He would definitely bring an extra buzz and bit of flair in a Chelsea shirt.

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