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“Wilfried Zaha to make sensational Crystal Palace return? Palace chairman Steve Parish has share latest update on Wilfried Zaha potential Palace return who’s thought to now be on loan at Lyon after struggling to adapt in Turkey. Football Insider reports
Crystal Palace are unlikely to pursue a dramatic return for Wilfried Zaha, despite his struggles since leaving the club.
Mick Brown, a former chief scout for Manchester United and Blackburn who remains well-connected in football, exclusively told Football Insider that the 32-year-old forward is not currently on Palace’s list of transfer targets.
While Zaha is still highly regarded in South London, his difficulties both on and off the pitch since his departure have raised concerns behind the scenes. Zaha left Palace in 2023 on a free transfer to join Galatasaray in search of Champions League football, but his time in Turkey has not gone as planned, leading to a loan move to Lyon. However, since arriving in France, Zaha has featured in only four matches across all competitions and has been left out of the squad on four occasions.
As a result, Palace are reconsidering the possibility of bringing him back to Selhurst Park and are exploring other options in the market. Brown previously stated that Palace are aiming to strengthen their attacking options in January, following Michael Olise’s departure.
When asked about a potential Zaha return in August, Palace chairman Steve Parish said on talkSPORT, “I’d have Wilf Zaha back in a heartbeat. He’s part of our club, part of our history as I’ve said countless times… Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be possible this summer for various reasons.”
Despite this, Brown, who has extensive experience in recruitment from his time at Manchester United, believes Palace will look elsewhere for a new attacker.
“No, I don’t think that’s one they’ll be pushing for,” Brown told Football Insider. “Palace know him better than anybody, and he is highly thought of there. But the way he’s struggled since he went to Galatasaray and now at Lyon has raised some concerns. There have been things happening behind the scenes that explain why he’s been left out of the squad—whether it’s issues in training or something else.”
He continued, “The main issue is that it’s easy to assume they can bring back a player who was very good for them, but he may not be the same Wilfried Zaha they had before. So, if they’re looking to sign an attacker, they’re likely to target other players.”
Although a return for Zaha remains a possibility due to his strong connection with the club, it is not a move Palace are currently prioritizing. Meanwhile, the club is preparing for a busy January transfer window.
