Wilfried Zaha celebrates after scoring. (Getty Images)
As per The Sun, Chelsea have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha in January.
It is no secret that Chelsea were unable to sign any players during the summer window. A two-window transfer ban restricted them from doing business but they did manage to get it overturned, meaning January could be a very exciting month for Chelsea.
Zaha continues to be linked with the London giants and the south London outfit could be open to doing business for a price of around £80m.
It isn’t always easy to sign players in January. There is lesser time and the fees are usually higher. But with that said, Zaha truly has the quality to play for a bigger club.
His price might not necessarily be the cheapest but Chelsea must consider getting rid of some deadwood and sanctioning a deal for the towering Ivorian.
Zaha has the ability to change the game by himself. He is pacy, strong and is adept at dribbling the ball like nobody’s business. He has been inconsistent over time but the player continues to be one the brightest stars at Selhurst Park.
As things stand, the Blues would be wise to add another attacker in the next window to regain their lost glory. Despite having Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic and Pedro in the squad, Frank Lampard is a bit thin on the wings.
Zaha is a world-class winger and if he joins the right club, he could go on to achieve wonders.
That said, bringing in Zaha could compromise the futures of Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi, both of whom are quite young and need regular game time.
Last season, in 34 appearances, the 27-year-old managed 10 goals and five assists. Those numbers are relatively impressive, considering that Zaha plays for a team that does not possess the quality that Chelsea does. However, his numbers this season do seem concerning.
Christian Pulisic, on the other hand, has three more goals and one more assist than Zaha in five fewer starts. Willian, a player whose future remains uncertain, has also managed greater returns.
Zaha would not improve the immediate strength in wide areas for the Blues. At 27, he is unlikely to get much better and his patchy form for Palace makes for worrying reading. Since the Eagles are demanding a hefty fee, Chelsea’s money may be better spent elsewhere.