Crystal Palace: 24-cap star now 'most likely' to leave Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is likely to walk away from Selhurst Park as a free agent next summer and join an ‘elite club’, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

Eagles boss Patrick Vieira spent more than £30million on bolstering his squad during the recently closed transfer window, but he has now turned his attentions towards tying Zaha down to a new deal.

According to The Sun, Palace have upped the ante in their attempts to keep Zaha in south London by putting a new contract on the table.

The report suggests the Eagles have held talks with the 24-cap Ivory Coast international’s representatives for more than a year and although fresh terms have been put forward, there is uncertainty over whether he will put pen-to-paper.

That is because Zaha will be able to hold talks with overseas clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement when he enters the final six months of his £130,000-per-week deal, which expires next summer.

It emerged in July that Roma have been considering a move, with the Serie A giants’ boss Jose Mourinho and the hierarchy being admirers of the winger.

Chelsea reportedly contemplated whether to test Palace’s resolve during the closing stages of the summer window as well, while transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that Arsenal are keeping tabs on Zaha’s situation.

Barclay understands that Palace have offered Zaha a new contract, but he has a hunch that the 29-year-old will snub the proposal and move on at the end of the season.

The journalist believes the wide-man will bolster his chances of joining one of the Premier League’s big six by being available as a free agent.

Barclay told GIVEMESPORT: “The noises I’ve got, not to say that this is what’s going to happen, is that the most likely outcome