Liverpool Could Switch Transfer Focus To Attack And Pursue £34m Former Man-U Forward
After failing to make waves at Manchester United, one forward may only have one last shot at the big time. At the right price, Liverpool could offer it to him....CONTINUE READING
The transfer rumour mill will intensify before it comes to a standstill. As the September 1 deadline looms, expect plenty of links before a few months of relative silence.
Liverpool are no exception to this, and an abundance of players will be mentioned before the close of business. Most of them are likely to be midfielders.
But there is one player who is not a midfielder, and to whom Liverpool have not been linked, who should nonetheless perhaps feature in the thinking at Anfield over the coming days. That’s Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha is in his final year at Crystal Palace and isn’t likely to sign an extension to his current deal. Moreover, Chelsea are reportedly lining up a bid (via The Independent) for the Ivorian.
A move this summer would likely represent Zaha’s final chance to crack the big time, with his move to Manchester United in 2013 turning out to be very underwhelming.
Now nearing 30, time is running out for Zaha to make good on the promise he showed at Palace during his first stint at the club, and which he’s also displayed in his second run at Selhurst Park.
Should Liverpool make a bid for Zaha too, and bring him to Anfield before the window shuts?
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Zaha scored 14 league goals in 33 games last season, in a Crystal Palace side that weren’t exactly the picture of attacking football. Patrick Vieira has moulded them into a well-disciplined unit, and introduced more of a creative impetus, but the Eagles still scored some 44 goals fewer than Liverpool.
Yet Zaha’s 14 goals played a vital role in keeping Crystal Palace well clear of any relegation discussions. What makes Zaha a potential signing for Liverpool is in the fact that he plays both on the left and right wing, making him a perfect fit for Jürgen Klopp.
He wouldn’t be the automatic starter that he is now, but he could make effective cover for Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz, should either of them need resting or become unavailable through injury. Amid the transfer clamour for a midfielder, this is one somewhat overlooked area.
Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Núñez can all play through the middle, and a case could be made for Harvey Elliott to be a cover for Salah should he pick up an injury, but Zaha would be a high-level back-up who can operate on both sides, and this makes him an appealing option for Klopp. He is not the raw talent he was at Manchester United.
Moreover, he could be bought somewhat on the cheap side, considering he’s into his final 12 months. Crystal Palace would likely want a high figure to let go of their best player, but Liverpool would hold the leverage in any negotiations. Valued at just over £34m by Transfermarkt, Vieira could make back 10 times what his side paid to re-sign Zaha back in 2015.
Whether Zaha would want to leave Palace, and the certainty of knowing he’s an automatic starter, remains to be seen. But if he wants to challenge himself at the highest level one last time and fulfil his early potential, then a move to Liverpool could help scratch that itch.
