Zaha is the kind of player I reckon it's nigh on impossible to sign in the current market because his transfer fee is higher than his value on the pitch. He'd be a good punt at around £30-40 million, but that's barely half of what Palace want for him. We don't have money like that this summer, and even if we did we shouldn't spend it on him.

If nobody offers 80 mil then he's not going for 80. Question is more about how much Palace want/need that 30+ and how hard Zaha pushes for it. Putting such a huge figure out there encourages bids rather than fending them off, I think.

Coombs wrote:

If nobody offers 80 mil then he's not going for 80.

He won't be going anywhere at all probably. There's very little reason for Palace to sell him since they can't get anyone as good to replace him, especially with half the fee going straight to Manchester United. I reckon that's why they're asking for so much money.

I like Zaha a lot, but I think I'd rather bet on Iwobi to stay on his development curve and go for a different type of player on the other wing.

Isn’t United’s cut only 25%?

I like Zaha, but I’d agree with the assessment that he’s not worth more than £50m, if that. Any chance Palace would take £40m and one of Chambers / Nketiah / Nelson?

That muscular physique in the Adidas shirt. Those dreads flapping about in the box

Ooooh yeah

MistaT wrote:

Isn’t United’s cut only 25%?

I like Zaha, but I’d agree with the assessment that he’s not worth more than £50m, if that. Any chance Palace would take £40m and one of Chambers / Nketiah / Nelson?

Personally, i don't want him if Manu get 20m cash for nothing.
Your post has me wondering if they could screw Manu by swapping players.
We give them all our unwanted players and they can pass Ozil on to utd as the 25% payment saving themselves the £350k a week wages.

Ornstein rates this transfer as 3/10 so unlikely it will happen

Iwobi and Chambers + £30m.

Like someone else said in another thread it's really appealing that Arsenal is his boyhood club and that it would be his dream move.

This is a nightmare link. Thanks, no thanks.

Yep, I’m serious. I’ve never rated the guy. Especially not for the stupid money he is going to cost us.

I'm with flo. The guy has many good traits but I've never wanted him at arsenal

There would need to be some major sales to cover the cost of this kind of deal anyway

Really talented, but reminds me a lot of Iwobi. He has some nice skills, pace and athleticism, but he really isn't playing as well as all those nice qualities would suggest. Too lazy? Lack of motivation? Lack of support on the pitch? Who knows. Would be worth a punt at £30-40 mill though.

I agree with Flo and Gaz. Zaha has become a much better player in the past couple of seasons, but he's still unreliable in the final third with the final pass or finish.

That said, player swapping our way to a deal and screwing United over in the process would make it worth it.

Chambers, Jenkinson, Elneny, and a few others, could be a genuine interest for them.

Plus, we know Zaha is a certified Gooner:
[Twitter]

I do get the Iwobi vibes as they both possess dribbling and ball-carrying skills but I disagree that he isn't playing well as he has consistently been Palace's best player these past 3 years and they hardly ever win when he doesn't play.
Also Zaha doesn't panic and forget how to kick a ball when in the box and Iwobi's walking at breakneck speed (no knee lift) style of running is no match for Zaha's blistering pace.

unfortunately he signed a contract extension last august, it looks like, so he has no real leverage. his contract runs through 2023. smart of palace to tie him down. unless he just absolutely hands in a transfer request, cant see anything in this, as we should not pay more than £30m for him.

As the current speculation goes we're essentially looking at a scenario of PEA Out plus 10m for Zaha In with less than half the goals, to say nothing that we're on a restricted budget not inside top4/CL and could use that money to strengthen the team elsewhere.

Even if I rated Zaha it simply looks like bad business. If it were Pepe then we're talking some sense. Even then I think I'd prefer Mahrez and use the difference to strengthen elsewhere.