Wilfried Zaha set to snub Saudi Arabian offer in a bid to play in the Champions League… with the Crystal Palace star earmarked for a move to PSG should their pursuit of Marcus Thuram collapse
Wilfried Zaha wants to join a Champions League club this summer despite being offered ‘generational wealth’ from the Middle East.
The Ivory Coast international’s future is unclear with his contract at Crystal Palace due to expire in two weeks.
Zaha’s contractual situation means he is available to join another club for nothing ahead of next season.
A number of teams have expressed a concrete interest in the 30-year-old, including clubs from Qatar and Saudi Arabia willing to pay Zaha a huge salary to join.
Wilfried Zaha is believed to prioritise Champions League football over a big money move
Karim Benzema became the latest high profile star to seal a move to Saudi Arabia after joining champions Al-Ittihad
The money on offer from the Middle East has been described as ‘generational wealth’.
However, Mail Sport has learned that Zaha is putting the opportunity of a move to the Middle East on the backburner for the time being as he focuses on a move to a club that would provide him the chance of playing Champions League football.
Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs playing in next season’s competition to have expressed an interest in Zaha in recent days.
It is understood that PSG’s priority is to sign Marcus Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach, with Zaha viewed as the alternative to the France international.
However, Thuram, 25, is also a target for AC Milan who are pushing hard to sign the winger.
Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach is said to the Parisian club’s priority target
If PSG are unsuccessful in their move to sign Thuram, then their interest in Zaha will accelerate.
Palace have offered Zaha a four year deal worth in the region of £200,000-per-week – with the attacker having until the end of the month to formally respond to the Eagles’ offer.
Zaha is not ruling out a staying at Selhurst Park and is open to signing a contract.
But his preference is to sign for an elite European club this summer – and is willing to accept less money than he is being offered by Palace to fulfil his ambition.
