Chelsea transfer news: Wilfried Zaha contact made ahead of potential summer move from Crystal Palace

Chelsea’s director of football has spoken to intermediaries about a deal for the winger

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Chelsea retain an interest in signing Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace and have spoken to intermediaries about the possibility of a deal next summer.

The Independent understands that Federico Pastorello, who counts Romelu Lukaku among his clients, has spoken to Chelsea’s director of football Marina Granovskaia about orchestrating the winger’s move.

Chelsea have long held an interest in the 27-year-old, whose contract at Crystal Palace runs until the summer of 2023, despite signing Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund and Callum Hudson-Odoi recently committing to a new long-term contract.

Zaha left his previous agency, Unique Sports Management, after a potential move to Arsenal fell through in the summer, with the player desperate to play Champions League football.

Palace played hardball throughout the past window over his transfer with the club’s chairman Steve Parish refusing to sell, despite Arsenal offering a lucrative structured payment deal.

Arsenal instead signed Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72m, while Everton also saw a bid for Zaha rejected.

When asked about the possibility of Zaha’s transfer saga spilling into the January transfer window, Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “As I’ve said on many occasions, when you have a player of that quality, it’s not surprising when they’re coveted.

“But he’s a Crystal Palace player, he’s under contract to us. No one here is anxious or desirous to sell him. But sometimes bids come in which are very difficult for the clubs to deal with.

“The speculation doesn’t interest me at all. I’ve been here two and a bit years now and there’s been speculation about him from the very moment I stepped through the door.

“He’s still playing for Crystal Palace and still doing a wonderful job.”