Wilf Zaha’s future will come into sharper focus towards end of Crystal Palace’s season
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has reiterated that the club do not want to lose Wilfried Zaha when his contract expires but insists the forward’s future will come into sharper focus towards the end of the season.
The Ivorian is heading into the final months of the five-year contract extension he signed in 2018.
Zaha, who has netted six times this season, is the club’s record appearance holder and goalscorer in Premier League history.
He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs overseas from January 1 and would walk away from the Eagles as a free agent in July if an agreement over a new deal at Selhurst Park is not reached.
If Zaha decided not to renew his deal with the South Londoners, then the Eagles could have been tempted to cash in on the 30-year-old this January.
However, Parish has dismissed that being an option.
Parish told the HLTCO podcast: “You can never say never to anything. It’s not even remotely on our radar. I can’t speak for Wilf, but personally, I don’t think it’s on his.
“He is totally committed to the club that he loves. I think he just wants to have a great season.
“That’s what we want. We want to focus on this season, finish as high up the league, getting as many of the right players around him as we possibly can, and respect that there are other options.
Crystal Palace v Southampton Premier League, Selhurst Park, 29 October 2022
Picture : Keith Gillard
“We have to see where that lands. We don’t want to lose him. Make no mistake [about it], we’re definitely better with Wilfried Zaha by miles than without.
“Everybody knows the situation. Patrick has spoken about it. We would love him to stay at the football club. It’s something we will put to the end of the season.
“Wilf is performing outstandingly for us. The future of what he does with his life is in his hands. We just want the best for him and the best for the football club.
“Everybody has got a fantastic relationship with him at the club – he is the talisman. He’s a wonderful guy and wants to win every football match – his will to win is extraordinary. We love him. What happens at the end of the season is what happens at the end of the season. We would love it if Wilf finished his career at the club, of course, we would, but we also respect what he might want to do.”
The Croydon-raised forward has featured 443 times for Palace and scored 89 goals in all competitions since making his debut in 2010.
“Whatever happens, he is a special player for the football club,” added Parish. “He’s probably the most special in terms of what he has contributed in the time that he has spent with us.
“I have got nothing but complete love and admiration for him. We’re not talking about it. We’re not thinking about it – we’re trying to put the best team we can around him so that we can achieve as much as we can this season.
“We want to show him and everybody the progress that the club is making on and off the pitch.
“Hopefully, everybody will want to be a part of Crystal Palace football club. What happens? We will see at the end of the year.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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