Newcastle United are looking for attacking reinforcements to come in this summer with qualification for European football looking very likely, now Wilfried Zaha is looking like a solid option for Eddie Howe.
The Crystal Palace winger is out of contract at the end of the season and while the Daily Star says that an extension to his Palace deal isn’t off the table, it’s thought that the idea of playing in Europe could be a big sell for Ivory Coast international.
The Star claims Newcastle and West Ham are the frontrunners for Zaha‘s signature with each club posing a different draw for the 30-year-old. Having spent most of is career at Palace, Zaha might be more comfortable staying in London which could give the Hammers an edge.
Zaha wants to test himself at the top level
On the flip side, Newcastle could offer him European football and the chance to compete at the top end of the Premier League table next season.
Zaha had a disasterous move to Manchester United early in his career which also involved him being loaned back to Crystal Palace. He was never really given a chance to show what he could do in a top side and ended up returning to Palace after a two year absence.
Now he’s hit his 30s it seems like the Ivorian wants to test himself again and a move to Newcastle would certainly give him the chance to do just that, but it won’t be straightforward for him. Newcastle have some strong players already in his position so he may not be automatic first-choice every week which may put him off the move.
Zaha would be an exciting option for Eddie Howe to have
He’s currently not expected to play again for Palace this season after picking up a groin strain in the game against Leicester, although that shouldn’t factor in to any decision we make regarding an approach.
For Newcastle it will likely all boil down to his wage demands. There’s no doubting his ability and on his day he’s ‘unstoppable‘ as Alan Brazil once said. His age isn’t a concern, but it is higher than what Newcastle usually look for, but as a free-signing it won’t matter too much.
I definitely think we should throw our hat in the ring for Zaha, he could give us an exciting option in attack, however I don’t see him as a regular starter with Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon likely to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
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