The talisman of Crystal Palace, who has one year left on his contract, might be sold.
Crystal Palace and Patrick Vieira knew they could begin the following season without a few key players from 2021/22 when the previous one finished with a 1-0 victory over struggling Manchester United.
After a mostly successful loan at Selhurst Park with Wilfried Zaha, their longtime talisman, Conor Gallagher would return to home club Chelsea.
The 22-year-old midfielder was unlikely to return to South London unless Thomas Tuchel found him to be unnecessary elsewhere in the city because he always wanted to prove his value at Stamford Bridge.
Zaha's fear was stronger than any hope or expectation.
The wide attacker has never been afraid to say that he wants to leave Selhurst Park for a sizable move, and in the summer of 2019, when Arsenal tried to wrest him away from their London rivals, he almost got his dream.
That deal fell through, and the Gunners chose Nicolas Pepe instead, a decision that was a complete failure for both the team and the player.
With Mikel Arteta in charge and the club bent on prioritizing recruits below 25 and yet to enter their prime, Pepe has reportedly decided to leave North London after three years at the Emirates.
What is going on with Palace's great player?
Zaha's perilous contract position means that Vieira will be on guard throughout summer, as was recently highlighted in GOAL's month-long piece titled "Zaha: What does the future hold?"
Even if there were, at the time of writing, few to no rumors about a departure or a prolongation, new reports of a move to Roma are starting to gain traction.
Vieira has gone out to downplay the connections, complimenting the 29-year-dedication old's ever since rejoining preseason workouts.
"I believe it is simply a report. The 1998 World Cup champion said, "We are in a time where there is a lot of conjecture around players.
"Wilfried Zaha's timely return and diligent work toward a successful season are crucial to me and the football team.
"We find it challenging to regulate what appears in the newspapers. What I do know is that he enjoys playing for our football team and is eagerly anticipating the upcoming season.
The aforementioned comments are, of course, expected from a manager whose star player's future is in question. The Frenchman must be concerned about Zaha's availability for their Premier League opener on August 5 against Arsenal.
With less than a month until the start of the new season, the Eagles are forced to replace their most crucial player before the summer window expires.
The Ivory Coast international currently has no genuine interest from English Premier League clubs, and the opportunity to play for Jose Mourinho may be appealing to a player who will turn 30 in November and may leave for free in a year.
In reality, if the 29-year-old declines to sign a new contract with the Eagles, he may decide to wait another year to consider his options, but in the present, supporting Roma's rise in Serie A and a desire to play in Europe may suffice.
After a mixed first half of the previous campaign, Mourinho's team appears to be on the upswing. They defeated Feyenoord in the decisive match to win the inaugural Europa Conference League. A sixth-place finish in Serie A had previously assured participation in Europe's secondary club competition, but that performance had guaranteed Europa League football in 2022–2023.
Zaha may not find it to be as prestigious as the Champions League, but it is unquestionably a higher level than playing for Palace in England.
The Ivorian has rebounded from that dismal 2019–20 season to score at least 10 goals in three straight Premier League seasons, and the Eagles legend may not have much more to accomplish in South London.
It won't be what Palace supporters want to hear, and they will likely want Zaha's close bond with Vieira retains him for at least another year, but there is a growing possibility that after 12 seasons together, player and club may part ways.
Roma rumor links Zaha to a move
Should Zaha pass up the opportunity to join Mourinho's Roma?
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