Wilfried Zaha to reject Cristiano Ronaldo link-up but Crystal Palace exit still beckons this summer
Eagles talisman to snub Saudi Arabia switch as AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund lead race in Europe
ilfried Zaha is set to reject a lucrative approach from several Saudi Arabian clubs to remain in Europe.
Saudi League leaders Al-Ittihad had offered him £9million a season after tax, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr were also interested in the 30-year-old, who will be a free agent in May.
Al-Hilal were also keen on doing a deal — as first revealed by Standard Sport in February. Zaha will wait until the end of the season to decide his future, but still looks likely to leave boyhood club Crystal Palace.
He has left a £200,000-a-week deal from the South Londoners on the table, despite it representing a sizeable pay rise on his current £130,000-a-week wage.
AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are the two most interested clubs in Europe. Zaha wants a club that match his ambitions of competing for silverware and will be playing in the Champions League.
Dream duo: Wilfried Zaha will not follow Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia this summer
/ Evening StandardEngland’s big six appear unlikely to make a move, despite historic interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Clubs from the Gulf state continue to compete with European clubs on transfers, having been given a huge budget from a state overhaul of domestic football.
The big Saudi clubs have been told they can try to sign the top players in the world, which has led Lionel Messi to receive a £350m-a-year offer to play for Al-Hilal.
Zaha, meanwhile, will miss Palace’s game at Southampton on Saturday with a groin injury sustained against Leicester a fortnight ago. Vicente Guaita has also been ruled out, as Roy Hodgson seeks a third straight win since replacing Patrick Vieira as boss.