Ex- Crystal Palace stars Clinton Morrison and Glenn Murray have confirmed that they believe now is the right time for Wilfried Zaha to depart Crystal Palace amid resurfacing reports that Arsenal could be tempted to sign the Ivorian.
tIt is believed that the Eagles will demand a fee of £60m from any potential suitor for their star winger, via TalkSport, despite Zaha enduring a largely disappointing campaign having just seven goal contributions to his name in 38 domestic appearances.
Speaking to TalkSport, the pair said they were ‘baffled’ when Arsenal opted to sign Nicolas Pepe instead of Zaha last summer.
However, with reports reemerging that Zaha could be available again this summer, Murray said: “Palace fans won’t thank me for saying this, but I do think Zaha needs to go, I think he needs to flourish.
Murray drew special attention to Zaha’s time at Manchester United back when he was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 in a deal which would be the legendary manager’s final one, Murray said: “Even as far back as when he joined Manchester United… I believe that if Sir Alex [Ferguson] still would have been in charge he would have been one of the best players out there now.”
Zaha joined the Reds back in 2013 before Ferguson announced his shock retirement plans and was eventually re-sold back to Palace just two years later after failing to impress Ferguson’s successor David Moyes.
Speaking with regards to the reports that Arsenal have reignited their interest in Zaha, Murray said: “I was really surprised Arsenal didn’t go for him last year and they decided to go for Pepe.
“It baffled me that they didn’t go for him. I feel Wilf would have been a slightly cheaper option and he’s someone that knows the league very well.
“Staying in London would be good for him as well; he’s a real London boy and I just think he would have been the perfect fit there.
“He’ll probably be the first person to say it hasn’t been his best season but, for me, when Wilfried Zaha is on his game he‘s one of the best wingers in the Premier League.
“He’s got that natural skill no one else can do.
“I think the time has come now, and most Crystal Palace fans will probably say this too, it’s time for Wilf to move on.
“I would say a club like Arsenal or Tottenham, I think he would suit them down to the ground.
“Arsenal is his club and I think he was desperate to move to Arsenal last summer, so if Arsenal came along he’d bite their hand off.
“But Arsenal or Tottenham, I think he’d be brilliant for either of those two clubs.”
READ MORE: Manchester United’s demanding schedule if Solskjaer’s side reach Europa League final
