Transfer Centre

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha 'pining for Liverpool move'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 19 October 2022

Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha reportedly sets his sights on a move to Liverpool if he leaves the Eagles on a free transfer next year.

Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha has reportedly set his sights on a move to Liverpool next year.

The 29-year-old has remained on the books at Selhurst Park for over seven years now, despite persistent speculation over his future in recent transfer windows.

Zaha has started the 2022-23 season in strong form for the Eagles, scoring five goals and setting up one more in nine Premier League matches.

The Ivory Coast international scored the winner for Patrick Vieira's side in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he also caught the eye for his all-around attacking performance.

However, Zaha is now due to become a free agent at the end of the season, having failed to extend his Selhurst Park deal since he last penned fresh terms back in 2018.

Wilfried Zaha in action for Crystal Palace on August 5, 2022 © Reuters

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were both rumoured to have been considering a move for Zaha in the summer transfer window, but a switch did not materialize for either club.

A report from September claimed that Palace had offered the ex-Manchester United man a new long-term deal, as Vieira is keen to tie him down before he is free to talk to foreign clubs in January.

Zaha supposedly remains undecided on his future, but according to Calciomercato, the attacker is "very fond" of Liverpool and would welcome a move to Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool boss Klopp oversaw a mini-overhaul of his attacking ranks in the summer, as Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino all left the club.

Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez arrived from Fulham and Benfica respectively, and the duo have been competing with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino for attacking places.

Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring for Liverpool on October 12, 2022 © Reuters

Klopp's ranks in the final third have thinned in recent weeks, though, as Diaz and Jota have been sidelined with knee and calf injuries respectively, with the latter being ruled out of Portugal's World Cup campaign.

Nunez has failed to show his best form since arriving in a £64m deal from Benfica - which could eventually reach a club-record £85m - but his header gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over West Ham United on Wednesday night.

The Reds have now risen above Brighton & Hove Albion into seventh in the Premier League table and will seek a third successive win when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Palace - whom Zaha has 88 goals and 74 assists for in 439 appearances - sit 10th in the rankings ahead of their trip to Merseyside to face Everton this weekend.