Aston Villa will be looking to book a place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup when they take on Liverpool at Villa Park, but the West Midlands side may be without a number of supporters who have been voicing their concerns over the pricing of the fixture and the quality of opposition that may be on show.
[ad_pod ]
Due to the Club World Cup commitments of Jurgen Klopp’s side, the Merseyside outfit will be playing two games in less than 24 hours; fielding two separate teams.
This is despite a request from the club to consider an alternative arrangement for the scheduling, and consequently, some of the Villa fans feel that they may be paying a premium ticket price to see a ‘reserve match’, while other simply aren’t happy about the cost.
Although a League Cup quarter-final should be a great experience for the newly-promoted side, these fans have been venting their frustration. Here are some of the best reactions following a tweet from the club.
Chelsea has been home to numerous elite-level talents over the years, helping the club cement their place as one of the big six sides in the Premier League.
Since 2000, the club have won five top-flight titles along with two Champions League triumphs, mainly thanks to the investment of former owner Roman Abramovich.
However, since he sold the club in 2022 to Todd Boehly, the Blues have failed to win a single trophy, with an emphasis on the American needing to return the club to its glory days.
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly
Striker Didier Drogba played a huge part in the club’s previous success, making 344 appearances and scoring 147 times – including in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich back in 2012.
The Ivorian starred alongside one talent who captured the hearts of many during his own time at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard’s time at Chelsea
Midfielder Frank Lampard will forever be an integral part of the Chelsea side that created new history for the club during the early 2000s, often taking the armband in the absence of John Terry.
Premier League legend Frank Lampard
He joined the Blues in an £11m deal way back in 2001 from fellow Premier League side West Ham United, making an immediate impact on the first-team squad despite his tender age of just 22 when he made the move across London.
Lampard produced numerous heroic displays during his time at Stamford Bridge, including in the Champions League semi-final back in 2008, scoring a vital penalty just days after the tragic passing of his mother.
The midfielder eventually departed the Bridge back in 2014 after 13 successful years at the club, amassing a total of 481 appearances – whilst making himself the club’s record goalscorer in the process.
He embodied everything about being a Chelsea player with his work rate, and desire to help the club succeed, whilst also having the quality to turn the game on its head in an instant – subsequently helping the club achieve their respective titles during his time at the club.
Frank Lampard
211
Bobby Tambling
177
Didier Drogba
164
Peter Osgood
139
Jimmy Greaves
131
The club have struggled to find a replacement for the Englishman, unsurprisingly, given his impact at the club, but at one point they thought one player could fill the boots of the fan favourite.
The man who was once the next Lampard
After joining the club back in 2013, midfielder Marco van Ginkel arrived from Dutch side Vitesse with high hopes of being the next big talent at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.
He only made four appearances during his debut campaign in England, before various different loan spells away from the club at the likes of AC Milan and Stoke City.
Rangers target Marco van Ginkel.
However, Van Ginkel, who was previously hailed as ‘the next Lampard’ when arriving, subsequently spent three separate loan spells at PSV Eindhoven, before permanently joining the Dutch side during the summer of 2021.
He made 76 appearances for Eindhoven across his three temporary stints at the club before his permanent transfer, but he would only last two seasons before yet another move.
Van Ginkel moved to Vitesse, the club he started his career at, scoring nine goals in 45 appearances last season, before leaving at the end of the season, with the midfielder now a free agent at the age of just 31.
It’s a real shame to see a player with such high expectations fail to deliver during his career, with the Dutchman another player in a long line that has never matched the promise demonstrated in his early days.
His time at Chelsea was a huge disappointment, only making four appearances over an eight-year spell, with the midfielder in desperate need of a move to reignite his once promising career.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.
Having initially set their sights on a move next summer, Manchester United have reportedly been so impressed by one target after sending their scouts that they’re set to speed things up.
Man Utd transfer news
In INEOS’ and new sporting director Dan Ashworth’s first summer at the helm, Manchester United arguably ticked every box of what they needed to recruit. The Red Devils welcomed a centre-back for the future in Leny Yoro alongside one in his prime in Matthijs de Ligt, whilst also signing an attacking reinforcement in Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte to replace Casemiro and a fresh face at right-back in Noussair Mazraoui. Yet, so far, they’ve been far from convincing.
Jose wanted Man Utd to sign £152m star in the making but got Lukaku instead
He is now considered one of the world’s best
ByJoe Nuttall Sep 20, 2024
Erik ten Hag’s side, despite all of those aforementioned arrivals, once again failed to get near Liverpool in another humiliating defeat at Old Trafford, before they were forced to battle past Southampton in another unconvincing display. They did at least avoid an upset in the Carabao Cup, however, having put seven past Barnsley in midweek.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, INEOS look set to continue their transfer strategy focused on stars for the future. In fact, according to GiveMeSport, Manchester United have been so impressed by Sverre Nypan that they now want to secure his signature in January rather than next summer.
Scouts have reportedly been in Norway to track the midfielder who is also a Manchester United fan in what should only provide the Red Devils a boost in pursuit of his signature. The plan would apparently be to sign the 17-year-old and then send him back on loan to Rosenborg, where he can continue to develop as a key starter in their senior side.
Tipped to be the new version of Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong – who has been the topic of Manchester United interest more than once in the past – Nypan could now hand the Red Devils the perfect alternative to the Dutchman.
"Exciting" Nypan proves the change in Man Utd strategy
Before Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ashworth, Manchester United were guilty of signing players past their best and overspending on talents who do not have a long-term future among Europe’s elite, with Casemiro the most recent example of that. Since their arrival though, things have changed.
INEOS' Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Instead of signing another Raphael Varane or Casemiro, those at Old Trafford welcomed Yoro and Ugarte in the summer, who will both have a role under Ten Hag for years to come rather than just the one campaign. It’s a strategy that should pay off and one that could continue with the arrival of Nypan to land a cheaper option to De Jong.
A midfielder with an “exciting future” according to Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, Nypan will be one to watch in the January transfer window.
A youngster who’s earned rave reviews from Manchester United, Nypan’s move may well be fast-tracked from the summer of 2025 to as soon as the winter window.
Celtic are in European action for the first time this season as they prepare to take on SK Slovan at Parkhead in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
As part of the new group phase of the competition, this is the first of eight matches that the Hoops will play in an attempt to qualify for the knockout rounds next year.
Brendan Rodgers’ side finished bottom of their group in the previous edition of the tournament during the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there should be plenty of motivation for them to right a wrong this time around.
The Glasgow giants head into this clash off the back of a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Hearts at Paradise on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership, thanks to goals from summer signings Arne Engels and Luke McCowan.
Despite the victory over Steven Naismith’s side at the weekend, Rodgers could look to make some changes to his starting XI, and here is FFC’s predicted Celtic line-up to take to the field against the Slovakian outfit on Wednesday…
1 Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel has started all six of the club’s matches in all competitions so far this season and deserves to keep his place between the sticks.
The experienced Danish titan is yet to concede a goal in the Premiership, after five appearances, and will be hoping for a strong start to his European journey at Parkhead.
2 Alistair Johnston
At right-back, Alistair Johnston should retain his place in the starting line-up after an impressive start to the 2024/25 campaign in the Premiership.
The Canada international has created four ‘big chances’ and averaged 2.2 key passes per game across his five outings in the division, which suggests that he can provide a big attacking threat down the right flank.
3 Cameron Carter-Vickers
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers
There should not be any doubt over whether or not Cameron Carter-Vickers will be in the starting XI for this match, barring any fitness issues, as he is a rock at the back for Rodgers.
The USA international has been crucial to the club’s perfect defensive record in the league this season, winning 69% of his duels in the division.
4 Liam Scales
Alongside Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales should be selected as the left-sided centre-back option ahead of summer signing Auston Trusty, who was brought in from Sheffield United on deadline day.
The Irish colossus has made 5.8 clearances per game across his five appearances in the Premiership and his excellent positioning will be needed to ensure that his side comes away with all three points on Wednesday.
5 Greg Taylor
Celtic defender Greg Taylor
Rodgers did bring Spanish left-back Alex Valle to Glasgow last month to bolster his options at left-back, but FFC are predicting that Greg Taylor will keep his place in the side.
The Scotland international has started all five of the games that Celtic have kept clean sheets in and has provided two assists, which highlights his quality in and out of possession.
6 Callum McGregor
Callum McGregor
At the base of the midfield, there is little doubt that the captain – Callum McGregor – will be the metronomic figure in the middle of the park for Celtic.
The Scottish star, who is now retired from international duty, has completed 93% of his attempted passes and scored three goals in his five league appearances.
7 Arne Engels
In the first of the two number eight roles, summer signing Arne Engels should start for the first time in a European match for the Scottish giants.
The Belgian whiz scored his first goal for the club on his full debut against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday, calmly rolling a penalty into the back of the net in the second half.
8 Luke McCowan
The first possible change to the starting XI could come alongside Engels in the middle of the park, with former Dundee man Luke McCowan replacing Reo Hatate.
In his last two Premiership matches, the Japan international lost seven of his 12 ground duels and lost possession a whopping 32 times, without providing a goal or an assist.
McCowan, meanwhile, has won 62% of his ground duels in the league this season and scored three goals in five games, the latest of which came as a substitute against Hearts.
The Scottish ace could provide more physicality in midfield, with his strength on the deck, whilst also providing a greater goal threat alongside Engels.
9 Nicolas Kuhn
Nicolas Kuhn
Nicolas Kuhn should keep his place in the starting XI after a strong start to the Premiership season, with two goals, two assists, and three ‘big chances’ created in four starts.
The German winger has proven that he has the quality to offer a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants, and his presence on the flank could be key to unlocking the Slovan defence on Wednesday night.
10 Adam Idah
The second change to the line-up could come in the centre-forward position, as Rodgers could brutally ditch Kyogo Furuhashi for Adam Idah to be unleashed.
FFC published an article urging the manager to drop the Japanese striker after he lost 100% of his duels and missed a ‘big chance’ in the win over Hearts.
Idah, whose ability was described as “incredible” by Rodgers last term, could provide more physicality for Celtic, having won 64% of his aerial battles last season in the Premiership.
The Ireland international also scored eight goals in five starts in the league for the Hoops and could offer a physical presence as well as a goal threat, after Kyogo offered neither on Saturday.
Arsenal have “held talks” to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia, reports 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.
Which players are Arsenal signing in 2023?
The Gunners have been on fire in the transfer market so far this summer, splashing the cash to ensure their incredible 2022/23 season under Mikel Arteta is no flash in the pan.
The north Londoners have already announced the signing of Kai Havertz from Chelsea – a sure sign of the power shift in the capital – and deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are thought to be all but done.
Arteta and Edu’s work won’t finish there however, due to the fact that they are also set to lose some key players from the team that performed so well last term. Granit Xhaka has left the club to join Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen while Thomas Partey is also thought to be likely to leave, so the addition of Rice may need to be accompanied by another new arrival in the centre of the park.
thomas-partey-arsenal
And that’s where Lavia could come in, with the Southampton youngster expected to depart after the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League. The 19 year-old is one of several midfield targets to be linked – the likes of Moises Caicedo and even Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni have been mentioned – but the Belgium international appears to be the most advanced.
Are Arsenal signing Romeo Lavia?
Indeed, the Gunners have actually “held talks” to sign the former Manchester City starlet, reports Bailey, but they aren’t alone as Chelsea and Liverpool have also made the same steps.
Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle are also keeping an eye on the situation, with the teenager “emerging as one of this summer's most in-demand players”. Saints apparently expect to recoup £50m to sell their prized asset.
It’s hard to imagine Lavia coming in and starting week in week out for the Gunners – he is outperformed by Rice in all but three of FBRef’s key metrics for defensive midfielders – but he would be an excellent option to have in the building depending on the opposition, especially with tricky European ties on the way.
The three areas he actually betters Rice in are tackles, blocks and successful take-ons, painting the picture of a player who is excellent at shielding the back four, breaking up play and then weaving out of tight situations to retain possession once he has taken it.
With Rice sure to be striding forward and aiding the more attack-minded players in the XI, having a pure number six behind the England international in certain games would allow him to focus more on those attacking phases of play, and Lavia looks the perfect candidate.
You don’t need to look far to find plaudits for the tough-tackling ace either, with Pep Guardiola saying this earlier this year: “We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton.”
Many pundits and fans alike have pointed out the similarities between the way Arteta’s team operates and Pep’s City, so it is no surprise to see the boss looking to recruit a player valued so highly by his former mentor, and the interest from various big six rivals shows exactly how Lavia is seen by those around the game.
Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a "crazy offer" for Galatasary duo Victor Nelsson and Nicolo Zaniolo, according to reports out of Turkey.
Who will Spurs sign after Maddison?
The Lilywhites have surprisingly got a couple of deals over the line already, and new manager Ange Postecoglou will be thrilled.
Spurs confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli recently in a deal worth around £17.2 million, and just days later, playmaker James Maddison joined for £40 million from Leicester City.
Maddison in particular is a pretty big coup for £40m, especially considering he was the Foxes star player last season and racked up an impressive 19 top flight goal contributions (10 goals, nine assists).
It is believed Spurs aren't done there, though, with the north Londoners chasing a star centre-back to plug their leaky defence which conceded more league goals than any other side above 15th last season.
The likes of Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) and Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven are reliably thought to be of interest with talks ongoing, but according to a piece of news from the continent, Nelsson is also still on their radar.
Turkish news outlet Milliyet (via Sport Witness) has an interesting update on the Dane, and his teammate Nicolo Zaniolo, with Tottenham apparently making a "crazy offer" in an attempt to sign the Galatasary duo.
Italy midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.
Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur has apparently travelled to London for talks, where Spurs are mentioned, and it is believed he "sat at the table" with Tottenham to discuss both players.
In what is a very unique bid, Postecoglou's side apparently lodged an offer of two to three of their own players plus €30-35m (£26m-£30m) in cash for Zaniolo and Nelsson, thought there is no mention as to which Spurs stars were sacrificed.
Timur is allegedly eager to negotiate player exits and raise funds, and while he was not happy with Tottenham's proposal, talks remain ongoing.
The Galatasary chief originally valued both players together at around £52 million.
What's been said about Nelsson and Zaniolo?
Reşit Ömer Kükner, a member of the Galatasary board, holds Nelsson in very high esteem with the centre-back being called a "Danish lion" and model "athlete".
Meanwhile, former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson praised Zaniolo during his previous links to Tottenham – branding the Italy international a "steal".
The ex-England international even likened his potential transfer to the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, who have done well since singing for Spurs.
"Perhaps he could be the next Kulusevski or Bentancur – a steal from Italy in the January window," said Robinson to Football Insider.
West Ham United target Habib Diallo could be an upgrade on current first-choice forward Michail Antonio as David Moyes looks to strengthen his squad following their Europa League Conference triumph.
West Ham latest transfer news – Habib Diallo identified
With a return to the Europa League waiting for them next season, the Hammers have been busy looking at ways to strengthen their side across the pitch.
Talisman Declan Rice's likely departure still looms, and the east Londoners will have a huge hole to fill once the skipper does leave, so they've been targeting several noticeable names already this summer.
Recently-relegated James Ward-Prowse is a talent the Hammers are interested in, and they could potentially use any money generated on the back of a Rice sale to fund the move.
Moyes' side have also been linked to Juventus' Denis Zakaria, with Fabrizio Romano revealing they'd enquired about a possible deal, with the midfielder reportedly not wanted at the Italian side.
Midfield isn't the only area West Ham are keen to strengthen, though, with L'Equipe now revealing their interest in Senegalese striker Diallo, but they are among several other clubs currently weighing up a move for the 28-year-old, including top-flight rivals Newcastle United and Burnley.
What would Hamid Diallo bring to West Ham United?
There's no sugarcoating West Ham's woes in front of goal last season.
With just 42 league goals, they were outscored by two of the three relegated sides, Leeds United (48) and Leicester City (51). The club's top scorers last year were Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma, with just six goals apiece.
The lack of firepower was largely responsible for their struggles in the Premier League, and with a Europa League campaign awaiting them next season, it's a problem they're going to have to fix if they want to have any level of success in the competition.
Bringing in Diallo, who has been hailed as a "complete striker" and "one of the best" in France by former Senegal international Kader Mangane, could be the perfect remedy for that, though, with the 28-year-old already proving himself as a natural, prolific goalscorer in Ligue 1 last season.
With 20 goals for Strasbourg last season, Diallo is the firepower that the Hammers need if they're to significantly strengthen their forward line and even provide an upgrade on Antonio.
Michail Antonio
While he's had a fine tenure with the Hammers and was vital in their Europa League Conference success last season, with seven goals in the tournament, over the course of his eight-year stint at West Ham, Antonio has never managed to score more than 14 goals in all competitions.
In fact, this last season was actually his most prolific for the club with 14 goals in all competitions, but just five of those came in the Premier League and at 33 years of age.
Having heavily relied on his pace in the past, it's fair to assume that the former Nottingham Forest ace won't be able to replicate the goal-scoring form he displayed in Europe last season for much longer.
Diallo's regular availability also provides an upgrade on Antonio, who has struggled to stay fit in the past.
The Strasbourg forward played in all but one league game last year, offering a consistent level of health that West Ham would benefit from, thus making him a viable and suitable frontline upgrade this off-season.
Arsenal are closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as Kai Havertz is nearing a switch to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports…
Arsenal transfer news – Kai Havertz
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has provided a fresh update on the Gunners' pursuit of the Chelsea star as he took to Twitter on Sunday morning:
"News #Havertz: He‘s very close to join @Arsenal now! All depends on the final offer from Arsenal.
"Havertz, keen to join #Arsenal now as personal terms are almost agreed. Arteta loves to see him in addition to Jesus.
"Bayern inquired about conditions in the last days but the negotiations with Arsenal are too advanced – Bayern informed. Therefore no offer/hijack from Bayern yet.
"Transfer fee package expected: at least around €80m [£68m] all in."
How good is Kai Havertz?
The north Londoners have endured a mixed bag when it comes to signing players from their capital city rivals over the years.
Petr Cech has perhaps been the most successful arrival, whilst the likes of Willian, David Luiz and William Gallas have certainly divided opinion amongst the Gunners' faithful.
Havertz is more than likely to fall into the latter category.
The German international has been something of an enigma since his £72m arrival in English football back in August 2020.
At Bayer Leverkusen, the 24-year-old was utilised largely as an attacking midfielder or false nine, with his 46 goals and 31 assists from 150 appearances being the very reason behind the Blues stumping up such a hefty sum, but he hasn't really been able to replicate that since.
Just 11 games shy of the aforementioned appearance total, Havertz has managed 14 fewer goals and 16 fewer assists, largely being deployed as a sole striker under an array of different managers, as per Transfermarkt.
It seems likely that Havertz would be deployed in a similar role at the Emirates, given Mikel Arteta's 'love' for him to be an alternative to current no.9, Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian is actually a comparable player when using FBref's player comparison model and what the Chelsea star lacks in terms of goal threat, he more than makes up for in and out of possession – in some ways similar to Jesus.
When compared to other forwards across Europe's top five divisions over the past year, the £150k-per-week talent ranks inside the top 6% for pass completion, the top 9% for progressive passes, and the top 10% for tackles, all per 90 via FBref.
It's perhaps why Gunners legend Thierry Henry made a glowing comparison to another former Arsenal forward – speaking on CBS Sports' Champions League coverage earlier in the year, he said:
"He reminds me sometimes, a little, of Robin [van Persie] – back to goal the way he can hold the ball. Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals because you can play off him."
The 6 foot 4 "machine" – as once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – would certainly be a bold risk for Arsenal to take during the offseason but if anyone can get him back to his brilliant best, it's Arteta.
There will also be plenty of question marks over the £68m price tag, especially after the failings of club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, but the Arsenal boss has proven that he must be trusted – if he wants the player, then sporting director Edu Gaspar should do all he can to secure him.
Aston Villa are expected to have a busy summer, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi set to join Unai Emery in the business room.
The Villans have been linked with a host of talent following the end of the Premier League season, as the transfer window officially opened on Wednesday.
News emerging this week linked a Bundesliga star with a move to Villa Park in a talent that could significantly improve Emery’s blossoming side.
What’s the latest on Manu Kone to Aston Villa?
As reported by the Daily Mail, Aston Villa have ‘registered an interest’ in Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone.
The midfielder has been linked to Liverpool as well as Wolves from the Premier League, with his value reported to be in the region of £35m.
Having joined Monchengladbach in 2021, the Frenchman is contracted to the club until 2025, while his side have the option to extend by an additional year.
What could Manu Kone offer to Aston Villa?
Hailed as being a “one-man army” in midfield by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old has had an impressive individual season in the Bundesliga.
In 30 league appearances, Kone maintained a 54% success rate for total duels, averaging a monstrous 7.4 won per game, via Sofascore.
The young talent could be a revelation in Emery’s midfield in an area that has been transformed by the Spaniard at Villa Park, particularly through the form of Douglas Luiz.
The Brazilian maintained an average Sofascore match rating of 7.10 this past season, cementing himself as the controller in the engine room and ranking as the club’s best individual performer.
With the Bundesliga ace rumoured to be wanted at Villa Park, Emery could unleash a duo in deep midfield that could dominate the Premier League with their innate defensive ability in a critical area.
Kone averaged 2.5 tackles per game with Luiz averaging 2.0 in the English top tier, communicating the dominance the pair share when playing in midfield.
douglas-luiz-aston-villa-premier-league
Slightly contrasting strengths suggest that the pair could complement each other perfectly in a partnership, with the Frenchman more skilled in progressive play, as conveyed through his average of 5.73 progressive passes per 90 to the Villa star’s 4.55 (via FBref).
Another dominating factor that the 22-year-old could bless Emery with at Villa Park is his dribbling ability, having been lauded as “magnificent” and “press-resistant” by U23 scout Antonio Mango for his talents on the ball.
Such praise is supported by the Colombes-born gem averaging 1.97 successful take-ons per 90 – numbers that rank him in the top 4% of midfielders in Europe in this area, making him an asset to have in defensive midfield.
The Borussia whiz has been linked to Liverpool ahead of the opening of the transfer window, though considering the pull factor the partnership of Emery and Monchi could bring to Villa, the future of Kone is one to track closely.
The future of Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace is yet to be determined, but the latest update in the saga may shed light on where the Ivorian winger will end up next season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Eagles star has not agreed terms with Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr, at this stage. He tweeted:
"Wilfried Zaha has not agreed terms with Al Nassr at this stage. Saudi club has approached him but nothing done.
"Understand Zaha’s priority remains European football, attracting strong interest from Champions League clubs."
Which clubs want to sign Wilfried Zaha?
Indeed, Zaha’s future is more likely to reside in Europe, with the winger prioritising European football at his next club.
Zaha signed a 5-year contract in 2017 worth an estimated £26 million, per Spotrac.
That £130k-per-week contract runs out this summer, and Zaha’s future is still up in the air. Palace have made their intentions clear that they want to keep the player and have tabled a whopping £150k-per-week offer for the club hero to stay on at Selhurst Park.
Zaha has attracted interest from the Middle East, especially from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi clubs are set to splash the cash this summer, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo both signing for clubs in the Saudi Pro League in the last six months.
But Romano has stated that Zaha is more attracted to the prospect of playing in the Champions League than a move to Saudi Arabia.
Atletico Madrid are the latest European side Zaha has been linked with, as they look to rebound after a difficult 2022/23 season under Diego Simone.
What club should sign Wilfried Zaha?
The romantic ending to the Zaha saga would be for the winger to stay at Crystal Palace. But how realistic this is would be a different question.
Zaha has spent almost his entire career at Palace since breaking into the senior team through the academy in 2009.
The long-serving Eagles star helped fire Palace to promotion from the Championship in 2013, scoring two memorable goals in the playoff semi-final win over rivals Brighton. That season, Sir Alex Ferguson made Zaha the final signing of his tenure at Manchester United, but the transfer proved to be a failure.
Zaha made just two Premier League appearances for United and was loaned out to Cardiff City in 2014 where he made 12 appearances, per Transfermarkt.
In total, the 30-year-old dynamo has made 458 appearances for The Eagles, scoring 90 goals. Wilfried is a club legend and a fan favourite, and to see the winger finish his club career at his boyhood club would be part of the romance football is lacking in this current era.