- Wilfried Zaha left Crystal Palace as a free agent last year and moved to Turkey
- His wages may prove a stumbling block but Palace are keen to sign him again
- The Premier League is reported to be a likely destination for the 31-year-old
Crystal Palace are interested in securing a sensational return for Wilfried Zaha with Galatasaray open to letting him leave this summer, according to reports.
Zaha departed Selhurst Park for Turkey as a free agent last summer but his current club have agreed he will be able to seek a move away just 12 months on.
With the Premier League seen as a likely destination, Zaha may well seal a shock comeback to Palace in what would be his third separate spell with the Eagles.
The Telegraph have claimed that a loan deal is a possibility although his hefty salary may prove a stumbling block for potential suitors. Indeed, Galatasaray are said to be demanding a fee of around £9million to cover at least some of Zaha’s wages.
However, his proven top-flight status and statistics during his time in England have made him an attractive option and Palace are among those open to signing him.
Crystal Palace are eyeing up another sensational return to the club for Wilfried Zaha
Zaha departed Palace for Galatasaray last summer but is able to leave Turkey just 12 months on
Zaha, now 31, played 42 games in all competitions last season but by the end of the campaign, he had slipped out of the starting XI and become an impact substitute.
30 of his appearances came in the league while nine arrived in the Champions League and Europa League. In October, Zaha memorably scored against Manchester United, his former side, in Galatasaray’s surprise victory at Old Trafford.
Palace chairman Steve Parish is still believed to hold Zaha in high regard and Dougie Freedman, the club’s highly-rated director of football, is also an admirer.
Zaha made his first-team debut for Palace aged just 17 in March 2010 and went on to join United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing in January 2013.
Under Ferguson’s replacement David Moyes, though, Zaha played just four times.
Zaha played 42 games in all competitions last summer but slipped out of the starting line-up
He still holds admirers at Selhurst Park and Palace are among the clubs keen on signing him
He returned to Palace the following summer, first on loan for the season and then permanently in January 2015, and stayed for a further eight-and-a-half years.
Palace remain active in the market and a shock swoop for Zaha may well represent a cut-price piece of business capable of strengthening Oliver Glasner’s squad.
Several of their standout youngsters have been targeted ahead of the new season with talisman Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich in a £52m deal. Marc Guehi is wanted by Newcastle and wing wizard Eberechi Eze is coveted by rivals.
