Chelsea and Arsenal have been given fresh optimism ahead of a possible head-to-head to sign Wilfried Zaha next year, with the Crystal Palace star out of contract in 2023.
The winger was targeted by both clubs last summer, with the Blues pushing hard to secure an unlikely deal for the Ivorian late in the window. Having moved back to Palace in 2015, he has become one of the most feared players outside the top four and has one last chance to secure a big move when his deal ends in June.
Zaha, who was signed as a youngster by Manchester United in 2013 before a series of loans back to London, the Ivory Coast international turns 30 next week but has five goals already this season and is a proven Premier League forward.
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His total of 14 league goals last season was his best ever, and with both Arsenal and Chelsea looking for new attacking options, Zaha on a free contract or for a cut-price in January could be a way forward.
The attacker has been involved in new contract negotiations for a while now, and the Daily Mail reveal that Patrick Vieira's side are now worried about losing the star for free despite offering him a bumper new contract verbally. Zaha could sign for another club in a pre-agreement as early as January 1st when he enters the final six months of his current deal, and with the Premier League break for the winter World Cup just two weeks away, the chances of ensuring a new deal is agreed become strained.
Zaha will not be in Qatar after Ivory Coast failed to qualify, but the break could still cause contract issues with the tournament turning attention away from transfers momentarily. By the time the league resumes in late December, there could be less than a week before the winter window opens.
Todd Boehly has already worked quickly at Stamford Bridge to negotiate a pre-agreement with RB Leipzig for forward Christopher Nkunku - who may be the subject of an even earlier January offer himself - and Arsenal are still looking for new forwards after Emile Smith Rowe's continued injury setbacks, Bukayo Saka's own worry and a general lack of depth in the attacking positions.
To pick up a player with Zaha's quality on a free deal would be quite a signing for either club, and it would be luring away one of London's stars across the capital as well. Chelsea and Arsenal face off against each other first on Sunday.
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