Player has ‘reached an agreement’ to join Crystal Palace – Now waiting for clubs to agree deal
Wilfried Zaha left Crystal Palace at the end of his contract in 2023 and didn’t quite have the options of clubs that maybe he would have done had his contract ended a year or two earlier.
Galatasaray provided a decent signing-on fee for the free agent, and gave him a contract until June 2026. There were obviously huge expectations around Zaha’s move to Turkey and whilst he certainly hasn’t been a disaster, it would have been impossible for him to live up to all the hype.
As the season grew older and the Istanbul club fought for the title, Zaha slipped out of starting contention and that saw claims the Super Lig champions would look to part ways this summer.
Crystal Palace are one of a number of clubs who have been credited with interest, although it was thought they’d face a battle when it came to personal terms and also agreeing a deal with Gala.
Yağız Sabuncuoğlu now reports the first hurdle has been jumped, saying Zaha has ‘reached an agreement’ to join Crystal Palace and return to the Eagles.
According to the Turkish journalist, the player is now ‘waiting for the clubs to agree a deal’. That may not be quite as difficult as some have suggested, with Galatasaray always looking for the next big signing and Zaha leaving being a help in that regard.
Update: The same journalist now says the clubs are close to reaching a deal.
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Crystal Palace Eye Maxence Lacroix to Replace Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace seek replacements for potential exit of Guehi and are eyeing Chalobah and Lacroix.
Lacroix is greatly admired by Oliver Glasner, who he has worked with previously.
Chalobah yet to make a decision on his future and is also of interest to West Ham.
Crystal Palace are scouring the market for a replacement for Marc Guehi ahead of his potential exit and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has name-dropped Chelsea outcast Trevoh Chalobah and Maxence Lacroix of VfL Wolfsburg as two options.
Oliver Glasner, who replaced Roy Hodgson in south London in February 2024, is looking to enter his first full season in charge with a squad stronger than what he had at his disposal last term.
That will be difficult, of course, given Michael Olise has already moved to Bayern Munich – and with Guehi’s move to Newcastle United seemingly on the horizon, the Englishman’s exit will put the top half hopefuls at a further disadvantage.
Romano: Palace Target Lacroix and Chalobah
Guehi admired by Newcastle
Guehi has been an ever-dependable figure for the Eagles since his move from Chelsea in the summer of 2021, but is set to end his 111-game stint this summer. In turn, Palace have already started to plan who could be his replacement in the heart of the back line.
The ever-reliable Romano, writing in his Daily Briefing, reported that Glasner and his entourage are interested in Chalobah, a player who Chelsea are willing to sell this summer.
As well as the Premier League-proven Chalobah, the football insider has revealed that Lacroix, who has performed under Austrian tactician Glasner beforehand, is also of interest to the south Londoners.
