Newcastle have been linked with signing Wilfried Zaha on a free, but he may now have the chance to play in Saudi Arabia for huge money.
Zaha‘s Crystal Palace contract is set to expire at the end of the season, leading to intense speculation that the Eagles talisman will be leaving Selhurst Park.
Rumours about a move to Newcastle emerged at the weekend following the win over Brentford. The Daily Star reported that the Magpies and West Ham were leading the race to snap up the 30-year-old on a Bosman.
Free agents will continue to be appealing to Newcastle as they manage the muddy waters of financial fair play, but it can also lead to huge wage demands.
There was talk of Jesse Lingard demanding £200,000-a-week to join Eddie Howe’s side last summer following the expiry of his Manchester United deal, and it now looks like a huge figure will be needed to tempt Zaha to St James’ Park.
Wilfried Zaha offered huge money to play in Saudi Arabia
According to the Daily Mail, Zaha has received a contract offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, who are managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.
They report that the Palace forward has been offered a deal worth £9million-a-year after tax, which is equivalent to earning £320,000-a-week before tax in England.
It is an astonishing amount of money – and a figure that Palace are not going to come close to. However, the report adds that they have also proposed a huge wage package for the ‘incredible‘ Ivory Coast international.
The Daily Mail state that Zaha has been offered £200,000-a-week to stay at Palace – their biggest contract offer ever. That is how much they value Zaha, who has been an absolute superstar in red and blue throughout his career.
Whoever signs him will be getting a sensational player, but the wages that are being talked about will perhaps rule Newcastle out.
The Magpies are being careful not to smash their wage structure, so it would be strange for that blueprint to go out the window for Wilfried Zaha. There is no denying his talent, but he is probably not what Howe is looking for given his potential wage demands and recent injury record.
A move to Saudi Arabia is an option, but a deal with Saudi Arabia-owned Newcastle feels unlikely.
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