Chelsea have been linked with a move for Wilfried Zaha and have initiated discussions with the Crystal Palace talisman.
According to Simon Jones, as relayed by Sports Illustrated, Chelsea have opened talks with 29-year-old Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha’s representatives, and they are looking to bring him in before the summer transfer window slams shut.
It is no secret that Chelsea will need to add more quality and depth to their attacking unit, and Zaha could prove to be an exceptional acquisition for them in the short term. The former Manchester United winger has been in impressive form since the start of the season and he could make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge.
Zaha is well settled in English football, and Chelsea need players like the Crystal Palace attacker, who can transform their attack instantly. The Blues signed Raheem Sterling from Manchester City earlier on in the summer, but they need to bring in another wide player to replace Hakim Ziyech, who is set to move back to Ajax.
Zaha has been linked with a move away from Crystal Palace over the last few years, but the Eagles have managed to hold on to their star player regardless. A player of his calibre deserves to play at a higher level, and the chance to join Chelsea could be a tempting proposition for him.
Chelsea will be able to offer him UEFA Champions League football this season, and it remains to be seen whether they can agree on a fee with Crystal Palace this late in the window. The Eagles are likely to be desperate to hold on to their star player because selling him this late in the window could be a damaging blow for Patrick Vieira.
Crystal Palace will struggle to find a quality replacement with so little time left, and they will not want to jeopardise their plans for the season with a big sale towards the end of the window. Meanwhile, Chelsea have agreed on the signing of Wesley Fofana from Leicester City, and they will hope to finish the transfer window on a high by improving their attack with the signing of Zaha.
The Blues have been linked with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Cristiano Ronaldo as well. It will be interesting to see who they end up signing eventually. Chelsea will hope to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title this season, and they will have to strengthen their squad sufficiently in order for that to happen.