May 30, 2023
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Wilfried Zaha: What to expect in 2021?

06 mins

After years at Crystal Palace, will the Ivorian striker finally get his big blow next year?

By his high standards, Wilfried Zaha’s 2019/20 was pretty ordinary.

Crystal Palace relied mainly on Jordan Ayew last term and the forward’s downfall after lockdown, along with the team’s overall decline at both ends of the pitch, saw the Eagles fail to match their best campaign ever. Premier League.

Zaha’s looked back at his best with the quality injection into the Palace squad and appears to have reclaimed his position as the team’s top dog, scoring seven times in 13 league appearances, surpassing his total in goal contributions last season.

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If the Ivorian striker continues at this pace, there should be suitors ready to take over the former Manchester United striker in 2021.

Zaha: The Story of 2020

Zaha’s year has been mixed in every way, with disappointing 19/20 Observers making him pass as Roy Hodgson’s forward on the Eagles side.

He managed just four goals and three assists in the entirety of the previous campaign after suffering a hangover following his abortive transfer to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

This led to an average season which ended when Palace finished 14th, after threatening to push for a European place before the pandemic struck in March.

However, Zaha’s resurgence in the new season has been remarkable with the forward having already scored seven times while helping two others in just 12 appearances so far.

The Ivorian’s return to form has been made easier by the arrival of the talented Eberechi Eze, who has clearly lifted the creative burden on the former Man United winger in the early months of the season.

He’s set to surpass his 16 career best 16/17 contributions and in that form it’s hard to look past Zaha recording his best year statistically at the end of 20/21.

Zaha: Any transfer rumors?

Despite the attacker’s downfall from the palace last quarter, there were rumors that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea would sniff around the striker this summer, and those ties could be reactivated in January.

The Gunners’ decision for Willian has not borne fruit, as Nicolas Pepe continues to flatter to deceive, Spurs need more match winners outside of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and Chelsea lack winger natural in the team.

Considering Zaha’s performance, these teams might be tempted to fight for the acquisition of a player in his prime.

Zaha: a great hope for 2021

Without a doubt, for the 28-year-old to finally get his big bang.

It feels like Zaha has grown too big for Palace after so many years at the club and it would make sense for the player and the buying club to sign the dangerous and dynamic striker.

Zaha: A great fear for 2021

Certainly the reverse of the above.

If West Africa cannot find any serious buyers in the country or on the continent next summer, it may never get its upswing and end up on the street that failed in the Red Devils movement. in the early 2010s.

While Zaha packs a punch and is in his prime, potential buyers may be put off by a potentially high asking price, the fact that he turns 29 next November, and his salary demands, which can be seen as financially reckless.

Whatever happens, 2021 will be a huge year for the palace talisman and will see him either get a big transfer or start to think about never getting another chance at a giant club.

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