Wilfried Zaha, the talented Ivorian attacker, has become a highly sought-after player in the football market after parting ways with Crystal Palace. Zaha’s contract with the Eagles expired, and despite the club’s efforts to secure an extension, they have been unsuccessful so far.
Crystal Palace offered Zaha an impressive weekly wage of £200,000 for four years, a club-record deal, in the hopes of retaining him under manager Roy Hodgson. However, according to reliable sources at Sky Sports News, the 30-year-old has given his approval to three different clubs, indicating his readiness to explore new opportunities.
Lazio, Fenerbahce, and Al-Nassr are reportedly the three clubs that have agreed on terms with Zaha. Nevertheless, the final decision regarding his future still lies with the player, and Crystal Palace’s offer remains on the table as an option.
Zaha has had an illustrious career with Crystal Palace, contributing significantly to the team’s success. With 90 goals and 76 assists in 458 matches across all competitions, he has been a key figure in the club’s history. Zaha has had two separate stints at Selhurst Park, sandwiched between a less successful period at Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa has shown interest in Wilfried Gnonto, a promising 19-year-old forward who currently plays for Leeds United and the Italian national team. Gnonto showcased his skills and potential with several impressive performances at Elland Road last season, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 24 Premier League appearances. Despite his efforts, Gnonto couldn’t prevent Leeds from being relegated to the Championship, making it likely for him to seek a new club after just one season.
Sportitalia, through Football Italia, reports that Aston Villa has made an official approach for Gnonto, who is still under contract with Leeds until 2027. Leeds United is expected to demand a transfer fee of €25 million (£21.4 million) for the young talent’s departure this summer. Although a return to Italy is not currently considered, other clubs like Everton and Freiburg have also expressed interest in acquiring Gnonto’s services. However, Everton remains the front-runner in the race to secure the teenager’s signature.
In addition to their pursuit of Gnonto, Aston Villa finds itself in a fierce competition to sign Teun Koopmeiners, a talented midfielder from Atalanta BC. Koopmeiners, who has two years left on his contract with Atalanta, left AZ Alkmaar in 2021 to join Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. Known for his goal-scoring ability from midfield, he found the net 10 times in Serie A last season.
Foot Mercato reveals that Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion are currently vying for Koopmeiners’ signature, but they face stiff competition from European clubs. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi sees Koopmeiners as an ideal replacement for Moises Caicedo, who could potentially leave for Chelsea. Napoli, Juventus, and Inter Milan have also shown interest in the 25-year-old Dutch midfielder, who has amassed an impressive record of 14 goals and eight assists in 78 matches for Atalanta over the past two seasons.
Although Atalanta is reluctant to sell Koopmeiners, especially with the potential departure of Rasmus Hojlund, a transfer fee of €35 million (£29.9 million) might tempt them to reconsider.
Lastly, Leeds United might witness the departure of Robin Koch, the German international center-back, alongside Gnonto. Koch has endured injury struggles during his time in the Premier League but has still made a significant impact, featuring in 77 matches across all competitions for Leeds.
Koch’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that the defender is on the verge of returning to his homeland, Germany, as he is close to finalizing a season-long loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt. Romano suggests that Koch has given his approval for the temporary transfer, and Frankfurt has already scheduled medical tests in preparation for an official announcement.
Despite reported interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Koch is poised to make a Bundesliga comeback, three years after leaving Freiburg. His arrival at Frankfurt will fill the void left by Evan Ndicka, who recently completed a free transfer to AS Roma after running down his contract with the German club.