Mizgan Masani
Danny Simpson urges Manchester United to re-sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha
Speaking to Stadium Astro (h/t Manchester Evening News), former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson urges the club to re-sign Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha, who was in the United books for three years before joining Palace on a permanent deal, has his contract at Selhurst Park expiring in the coming summer (Transfermarkt). The 30-year-old is increasingly likely to not extend his stay in south London and try a different challenge.
Former England and current Ivory Coast international has had an excellent last few seasons in the Premier League. He has been a talisman at Palace, both in terms of carrying a threat and producing more than decent goals or assists numbers.
Here’s what Simpson said about why United should consider signing Zaha and teaming him up with Marcus Rashford (h/t Manchester Evening News):
“I feel like Wilf plays better when he is the main man. I know he was a lot younger when he went to Untied, but if he goes to another top four top side he’s not going to be the main man. I would bring him back here. If you looking at Marcus Rashford as the No.9 and Wilfried on the left, that is some firepower.
“It was Sir Alex Ferguson who signed him then he left. Moyes obviously came in and it didn’t work out. I do genuinely believe if Sir Alex was the manager when he signed we would have seen a different Wilfried Zaha at Manchester United.”
If we look at Zaha’s numbers for Palace in the Premier League (hence excluding his numbers when he was on loan several times in the Championship), he has 67 goals and 42 assists in 267 appearances while playing most games as a winger in a team that does not score many goals season after season.
Not just the numbers, the 30-year-old carries a threat with his dribbling skills, pace in behind the defence and great close-control to attract defenders and leave space for others to attack into.
If we look at our options in the forward line, there are spaces to be filled to add more depth and quality. Although Zaha is 30 now, he still looks like a player who could produce the goods for the next few years.
More United News:
- Manchester United decided against signing Josip Juranovic from Celtic in January
- Manchester United target and Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard to be available for £26.8 million next summer
- Chelsea set to rival Manchester United for Napoli ace Victor Osimhen
So, keeping in mind that he will be a free agent in the summer, the Ivorian would be a low-risk signing for the club from a financial viewpoint. With all the experience and quality under his belt, he won’t disappoint the fans at Old Trafford.
