Why Chelsea signing Wilfried Zaha would be a world-class move

According to The Telegraph (h/t The Sun), Chelsea are lining up a January move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha should their current transfer ban be overturned.

Back in August, the Mirror had confirmed that Zaha had set his sight on a big-money move to Chelsea in the summer, telling his colleagues that he was determined to quit palace. But unfortunately, due to the Blues’ transfer ban, he could not move to Stamford Bridge.

Now, it is obvious that Chelsea are seeing him as a good addition to their young squad.

The Blues are on a fine run of form despite starting the season on a low note. They maintained a six-match winning streak only to be cut off by Manchester City last weekend where they lost 2-1 after leading from an N’Golo Kante goal.

Zaha has been at his best since moving from Old Trafford, where he endured a bad spell. The winger has been a consistent member of the Eagles squad and has racked up 337 appearances for them.

This season, the Ivorian international has featured in all 14 games in the Premier League, and has 1 goal and 2 assists to his name. He is considered to be a threat on the flanks for any opposition because of the speed and skill set he possesses.

Given the question marks about the futures of both Willian and Pedro at Chelsea, the Blues should look to strengthen their squad with an experienced winger.

The Telegraph reported that Willian is in a bizarre stand-off with Chelsea and claimed that he was not offered any new deal by the club, while the Blues insist they have. The Brazilian’s contract in Stamford Bridge comes to an end this summer.

Former Barcelona man Pedro has been out of favour under Chelsea boss Frank Lampard this season. He too has just six months left on his contract and just in case Pedro feels he needs more game time, the best option for him would be to move in the summer.

Therefore, Zaha would be the right pick for Chelsea to add firepower to their young attacking ranks. He is known to be comfortable anywhere in the frontline and has proven to be a game-changer on many occasions.

Christian Pulisic (21) and Calum Hudson-Odoi (19) are the only two players available on the flanks for Lampard. They are very young and still need time to settle down in the Premier League. And Zaha, who has immense experience, can lead Chelsea’s attack well.

A complete winger, Zaha can deliver crosses with ease. His dribbling skills are highly valued and the fact that he can take on defenders would be crucial for Chelsea. As the Blues look for a higher place finish at the end of the league season, Zaha could play a vital role for them in various competitions.

Read more

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Verdict

Zaha can be seen as a player who can support the youngsters well. He would not only be a winger in the squad but can also constantly bang in the extra goals they need.

In Zaha, Chelsea would have an established forward and luring him to Stamford Bridge would be smart. If not for injuries, the Ivorian can play as many games as possible and would make their attack look unstoppable.