Transfer Centre

Paris Saint-Germain eye Wilfried Zaha as Lionel Messi replacement?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 12 June 2023

PSG eye Wilfried Zaha as Lionel Messi replacement?

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly identify Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha as an ideal replacement for Lionel Messi, who is confirmed to be joining Inter Miami.

Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Paris Saint-Germain to replace Lionel Messi.

Following a turbulent two-year stint in the French capital, Messi will officially bid farewell to PSG when his contract expires at the end of the month.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner arrived in 2021 on a two-year deal from Barcelona, and those terms also included an option to extend until the end of the 2023-24 season.

At one stage, Messi and PSG were said to have reached a verbal agreement over a new deal, but Les Parisiens had a change of heart after his unsanctioned commercial trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

PSG are already thought to have completed a deal to sign Marco Asensio as they prepare for the exit of Messi, who is confirmed to be joining David Beckham-owned Inter Miami in MLS.

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi warms up on May 27, 2023 © Reuters

Despite Asensio's imminent arrival, the Ligue 1 champions are supposedly after more reinforcements in the final third, and Le Parisien reports that Palace talisman Zaha is a prime target.

As is the case with Messi, the Ivory Coast international is out of contract at the end of the season and is seemingly edging closer towards a second exit from his boyhood club after eight years at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles are thought to have offered Zaha a renewal which would make him their highest-paid player in history, and while Palace have not given up hope of keeping him, he is currently free to talk to foreign clubs over a free transfer.

The report adds that PSG football advisor Luis Campos has admired Zaha's talent and versatility for some time, and the French champions have held talks with several parties in order to get the ball rolling.

However, PSG will have to fend off interest from Saudi Arabian clubs in order to bring Zaha to the Parc des Princes, as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr aim to convince him to move to the Gulf State.

Wilfried Zaha in action for Crystal Palace on August 5, 2022 © Reuters

Zaha could apparently be in line for a yearly pay packet of €15m (£12.8m) if he says yes to Al-Nassr, but PSG are hopeful that their sporting project will be more appealing to the attacker.

Following an underwhelming stint with Manchester United, Zaha returned to Palace permanently in January 2015 and has 90 goals and 76 assists to show from 458 matches for the Eagles.

The 30-year-old has been tipped to move on for several years now, though, with a proposed switch to Arsenal in 2019 falling through as the Gunners swooped for his compatriot Nicolas Pepe instead.

The Gunners have allegedly considered reigniting their interest in Zaha this summer, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were also said to have been monitoring developments.

As well as Zaha, PSG are expected to try again for Manchester City's Bernardo Silva this summer, while the arrivals of centre-back Milan Skriniar and midfielder Manuel Ugarte should be confirmed in the coming weeks.